Does
God like you, just the way you are?
It all depends upon what your view of yourself is. God thinks you are spirit. Many Christians think you are human. If you’re human, then there’s a lot about you that God wants to change. If you’re spirit, then God has already changed you. What’s needed now is for you to believe Him.
After God changes you from old to new, from a son of the earth to a son of God, He is absolutely delighted with you—the change is complete. He has seen to it. He doesn’t want you getting confused about the change He has made when your behavior fails to match up with the change He has made. He doesn’t want you focusing upon your behavior in order to change, but He assists you to believe in the change He has made. This requires a healthy focus upon the truth. He doesn’t want you to change—please don’t! Stay the way you are. Stay the way HE thinks you are—a spot-on, perfect son or daughter of His. Get comfortable with that. I know—it may take a while. But convincing you is one of the things God does for you. And He’s pretty good at it.
This is why I maintain that God is fairly crazy about you. He wants to show you what He sees. He and all of heaven are dazzled. And as you see and know what He sees and knows, you’ll be growing—growing in faith that He likes you just the way you are.
It all depends upon what your view of yourself is. God thinks you are spirit. Many Christians think you are human. If you’re human, then there’s a lot about you that God wants to change. If you’re spirit, then God has already changed you. What’s needed now is for you to believe Him.
After God changes you from old to new, from a son of the earth to a son of God, He is absolutely delighted with you—the change is complete. He has seen to it. He doesn’t want you getting confused about the change He has made when your behavior fails to match up with the change He has made. He doesn’t want you focusing upon your behavior in order to change, but He assists you to believe in the change He has made. This requires a healthy focus upon the truth. He doesn’t want you to change—please don’t! Stay the way you are. Stay the way HE thinks you are—a spot-on, perfect son or daughter of His. Get comfortable with that. I know—it may take a while. But convincing you is one of the things God does for you. And He’s pretty good at it.
This is why I maintain that God is fairly crazy about you. He wants to show you what He sees. He and all of heaven are dazzled. And as you see and know what He sees and knows, you’ll be growing—growing in faith that He likes you just the way you are.
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What a beautiful post. I do know that when God looks at me through the Blood of Christ, He sees perfection because He sees His Son. But my "Reformed-thinking" mind tells me in (I John 3:2)
ReplyDelete"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is",...that we still have some flesh left that needs to die. Now I know it is either HIM that does that regardless of my cooperation OR I am called to play a part in it by "mortifying" my flesh through the Power of His Spirit. Pray for this girl who is seeking the Truth. I know that the Holy spirit is leading me there. (thanx for letting this be a safe place for me to take off the mask and be real here). :)
I like Dottie Ryan! And I must say, my friend, that God sees the real, actual you, the one He made become a new creation. Remember? He crucified the former you, and brought the new one. He’s not seeing you through the blood or through a veil, which, if removed, would cause Him to be repulsed by the real you. He actually sees you, and loves what He has re-created. You’re a lot like Him! Anything less means He didn’t do what He said He did. While we sometimes struggle with appearances, He does not; He sees reality. We have flesh, but we are not flesh. Flesh will always be flesh, and our “job” isn’t to kill it, but to live by faith in Jesus. That’s how we “mortify the flesh.” That’s how we live by faith in what God says is true of Himself and of us. Here’s the deal: I’ll keep reminding you, Dottie, if you’ll do the same for me. Our struggle is with lies, not with changing ourselves.
ReplyDeleteYou two have preached sermon to me! Thanks Ralph and Dottie!
ReplyDeleteSee? That's one of the reasons I'm a big Dottie Ryan fan. She is beautifully humble, which brings out the beauty in the rest of us. No pretending with Dottie. That means a lot to all of us.
ReplyDeleteCarol Grace Robinson Just curious Ralph, what do you see the "deeds of the flesh" being that the Holy Spirit is putting to death? Are you saying that the deeds are those things we attempt to do to be "acceptable"?
ReplyDeleteChristians are no longer in nor of the flesh—we are new creation spirits. In Galatians 5:16-17, the Spirit and the flesh are having a fight within us. It is their fight, not our fight. Our “role” is to sow to the Spirit, who then produces the life of Christ in us and through us (Gal 4:22-23). This is walking by the Spirit. If we sow to the flesh, the flesh will behave or act through us (Gal 5:19-21). Each feels like our behavior since it comes through us. But only the fruit of the Spirit feels right and normal, now that we are in union with Him. The behavior of the flesh feels wrong to us since we are incompatible with it.
ReplyDeleteFleshly behavior can look good and it can look bad. Either way, the flesh is that part of our body that suggests a course for living which results in living without the life of God. I’ve written extensively about this in my book because it’s such an important aspect of our days. I hope this helps.
I love it! Need a few moments to wrap my brain around it, but it's true and I believe it! Don't change...I like that. And other Christians that I know (that I would like to change) will like that I like that, too!
ReplyDelete