03 Apr Through The Lens Of Love
In the Easter season, I find myself faced with the gravity of what Christ did on the cross. I want to be worthy to be called His.
Ephesians 4 says, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” In Philippians 1:27, it says, “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Colossians 1:10 reads similarly: “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.”
When I read these verses, I can get disheartened. This is a high calling that can feel impossible to live up to. Paul penned these verses from prison. Is it possible to walk worthy of the gospel if we are not suffering for it as Paul did? Looking at the life of Jesus– He came. He suffered. He bled. He died. He conquered the grave. Can I truly walk in a way that will be worthy of all of that? Is God’s love and acceptance contingent on my worthiness? If so, is that achieved through what I do?
If anyone could be worthy and achieve salvation through works it would have been Paul. In the midst of prison, Paul could have boasted and said, “Look what I am suffering for the gospel. I’m walking worthy of the gospel.” Imagine this boastful Paul in today’s day, posting on social media: “@allchristianseverywhere: Got arrested while preaching the gospel. #chainsforJesus #Iamworthy #blessed”.
But Paul lays to rest any fear we might have about our own worthiness when he writes in Ephesians 2, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved…. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Even though I have known this scripture since I was a kid, my understanding of this kind of great love and grace was shallow until I had children of my own. There are moments where my children mess up, and they sense my disappointment in them. But, no matter what they do, my love for them won’t be diminished.
From the time they were in my womb, I loved them. Nothing they did earned my love. I will always see them through the lens of love because they are my children. I forgive their mistakes before they even make them because they are my children. What can I say? I am biased! Yet, how much greater is my Father’s grace and love than mine for my children?