RECEIVING FATHER’S LOVE

Many of us feel enough rejection and self-deprivation to not feel worthy of love, or certain kinds of love at least. There seems to be a kind of performance we need to pursue to prove ourselves, and to prove to God, that we are worthy to be loved. The most deadly performance is religious performance (i.e., If I pray more, read my Bible more, visit the sick more, sing in the choir more, teach or attend more classes, give more money, etc., etc.…) then the Father will love me more. Desire for acceptance can lead us to about any length of performance.

Maturing is partly achieved by learning to receive love. It is a great day when we can freely (at least as freely as possible) receive the gifts of God. To know God is to receive His gifts. It starts by receiving His love and moves to receiving His salvation, healing, and deliverance. We stand with open hearts and open hands to receive from a generous God. The Holy Spirit and His gifts are part of the maturing process of fully receiving God’s love. We receive these gifts and function out of them or we use our own gifts of our clever religious flesh.

“Now they have come to know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words which you gave me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from you, and they believed that you sent me.” Jesus