Readings...
Written: December 20, 2019
Thoughts from reading ABBA's Child by Brennan Manning
The primary step into Christianity needs to be the complete understanding that you are unwaveringly loved and ACCEPTED by the God of the universe. That is why he sent his Son to die for you. That is why the Son, Jesus, agreed to come down. To limit his Infinite into finite. He could’ve easily appeared into the world as a full grown man and that would have been enough to showcase the humility of his act but no, he humbles himself even further down. Down to a biological single cell organism. That first step into Jesus accepting death. After-all, only mortal beings are birthed in this way.
One must know in their innermost being that they are accepted as they are today and yesterday. God died for you thousands of years before you were born, why wouldn’t he accept you as you are today? So does that mean one doesn’t need to strive to better themselves. Yes and No. Improving one’s life, behavior, personality in light of their identity being rooted in the fact they are accepted by the Father comes naturally. It’s inevitable. It’s bound to happen. One is so moved by the Father's heart that their natural response would be to conform to his ways and his desires for you and what he wants you to become. However, going into action and beginning one's journey with self improvement to accomplish/earn acceptance, from society, parents, friends, and most importantly self, that’s where things fall apart. Naturally when one approaches life that way, it means a) God is not your number one b) you don’t believe you are accepted by the Lord, (also proof he isn’t your number one, because you dont trust his words/opinion of you) c) you believe because you’re unacceptable once you improve/achieve you will then win/become/transform yourself into someone acceptable.
Don’t you see. You are accepted. Now and forever more. So accept your sinful nature as well. Because you are broken and sinful, Jesus can be made strong in your life. (Page 54 Mike Yaconelli quote) “It was in our lack of faith God can give us faith.” If one doesn’t lack anything then why would someone need to give anything to them. Only if there is a lack can there be a give. So don’t you see instead of seeing your faults, sins, incompleteness as a detriment (of course from our perspective all we can see is ourselves and feel sad and pathetic) see that, because of our shortcomings we can see so much more of God and who he is. From God’s perspective we are the perfect beings for the Lord to showcase his love. Your brokenness is God’s opportunity to selflessly give his unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion, understanding, counsel, sacrifice.
Less of me is more of God.
Stop looking to the future. Thinking one day I’ll be good, one day I’ll be who I am supposed to be, then all things will align. I will then have wisdom and love for God, myself and others. No, you fool! That is a futile goal that will never come to fruition. You are still trying to be your own god, the master of your own fate. Today you are loved and accepted by God! Start there. You can love God because God loved you first. You can accept yourself for who you are today, with all your shitty-ness and disappointments, because God accepted you first. Your life starts today, NOW. Take a moment and let that sink in. The person you hope to be one day is the person you are today. It’s already started because of what the Lord our God has already done for you.
I am reluctant to say that this first step will better you and your life. After all, at the root of all our hearts is the desire to be better. To be the best versions of ourselves. So therefore, I feel it wiser not to even go there but, allow you, the reader, to discover that on your own. Because once you understand this first step, you will be so engulfed by the Lord, so satisfied by his presence that there will be no room for yourself anymore. No room to contemplate on how I can be a better version of myself. That thought in and of itself is self-centered. Don’t you see, the whole point of your relationship with God is to be GOD-CENTERED. “And all these things will be added unto you” but again that’s not even the point anymore once you become God-centered. He’s too big. He will fill you up to the point where self improvement doesn’t even matter anymore, because the God of the universe accepts, loves, and adores you.
