22. Good Enough for God: Finding Peace in God’s Love Instead of Performance

God is love. This is one of the most profound and significant descriptions of God in the bible.

Love is not just something that God does, but it is who he is. It is the very essence of his character.

In 1 John 4:8, we’re told, “anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

When we experience love, we experience God.

But perhaps the most difficult thing about this is that, this love is not based on our performance or good deeds. It is unconditional and freely given.

And I know, for the people-pleasers and perfectionists listening, this does not compute. We work so hard to hear the “good job”, to earn the pat on the back, the recognition, the love.

But that’s not how God operates.

Settle in, friend, and let’s talk about it.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

1Jo 4:8 ESV - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

 

Luk 10:38-42 ESV - Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

 

Mat 5:45 ESV - so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

 

Jhn 3:16 ESV - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 

Rom 5:8 ESV - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Rom 8:38-39 ESV - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Jer 29:11 ESV - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 

1Jo 4:19 ESV - We love because he first loved us.

 

Psa 34:18 ESV - The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

 

2Co 5:14-15 ESV - For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

 

Matthew 23

Exodus 3-14

1 Kings 17

2 Kings 5