Image from https://belonginghouse.circle.so
I promised more good news at the end of my last post. So, here goes. . . .
Let’s consider the difference between obedience in relation to the Tree of Good and Evil, and obedience in relation to the Spirit of the Law?
When Adam and Eve chose to do the ONLY thing God told them not to do, they opened a “door.” Their willful act of disobedience, opened access to evil in ways Abba hoped they would not, (but being all knowing, knew we would.)
God does not want people who are forced to love Him. God wants a voluntary love relationship with us. God chose us. Likewise, He wants us to choose Him. Since He loves us first, it is up to us to respond.
Until we individually choose to respond to His love, we live the results of the choice made in the Garden. Everyone’s human nature, including mine and yours, was corrupted by their choice to eat. With it comes all the consequences, including the messes we see around us daily.
That is reality, because we would make the same choice if we were the ones in the garden. It could only be repaired by Christ (promised in Genesis 3:15) coupled with the Holy Spirit living in us, and empowering us.
It is when we accept Christ’s payment, we are no longer afraid of punishment. 1 John 4:18-19 As Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The good news is, when we surrender to God’s perfect love, we reap the rewards of this loving relationship. This transformation inspires and empowers us to obey and abide.
Our rebellion from the garden is transformed into obedience to the Spirit of the Law, because we step back through the “door” into the intended relationship of the eternal Kingdom. We were separated by disobedience. In love filled response of obedience we are reunited with the Tree of Life. We are children of the King of Kings. We are a royal priesthood. We are the Bride of Christ.
The good news is that God’s motivation is always love.
Now, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit is living in us who choose Christ. This relationship is our hope of glory. We do not work it out in our own power. The love of God gives us the desire to maintain the love relationship. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to surrender and obey in, and from, love, not from fear…
May Abba help us all to grow deeper in the good news of the love of God for us every day!
*Image from https://belonginghouse.circle.so It tells of God’s love for us.
