God Likes You

The view is prevalent in our culture.  The view is "God is mean, God is harsh and judgmental and He wants you to give up your life for a set of rules".  I'm not completely sure why this view is so prevalent, but I have a few thoughts.  First, when God is not in the picture, everything defaults to legalism.  Look at the world religions for example.  The Hindu has to "work" to accept everyone. The simple adaptation of every belief system and doing good raises the level of "karma" which works out better.  The Muslim has to pray regularly, deny himself, and work to advance the cause of his false god.  In so doing, he "achieves" favor with god and his future is secure.  The hedonist (the one who's only goal is to get pleasure and avoid pain), works his whole life to make sure he enjoys himself and doesn't hurt anybody. He thinks to himself, "I'm a good person, I try to help people....somebody has to look out for number one".

Add any other religion or worldview and you'll see the same dogmatic and legalistic result.  THEY ARE WORKING to find meaning in life.

The Christian narrative should be different.  The Bible declares that if any man is in Christ he is a new creation,  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  Christ did the WORK for you.  Notice the grand contrast between the religious lies of the enemy and Christian Truth in John 10:10.

UNFORTUNATELY,  many believers live a legalistic life.  They have asked Christ into their heart, they are attending church and trying to follow him, but the orientation is WORKS BASED!  They are living BELOW THEIR STATUS.

If a benefactor downloaded billions of dollars into your account with no restrictions, you would not go begging on the street.  Christ has done the work!  Consider the truth of Galatians 3:13-14  Christ REDEEMED US!  He is the One who did the work not us.

Paul says it this way in Titus 3:5

Believer, God likes you.  He is for you, He has redeemed you and called you by name.  In the darkest days of Judah's history,  Zephaniah wrote an encouraging word about God and his relationship to his people.  You can read it in Zephaniah 3:14-20.

The Psalmist understood this truth as well.  If you are under a misconception of God, let me leave you with this fabulous Psalm as you reflect on the fact that GOD LIKES YOU!

^aFor his anger is but for a moment, 

and ^bhis favor is for a lifetime.³ 

^cWeeping may tarry for the night, 

but ^djoy comes with the morning.