You Are Enough
A “performance-based” relationship is one where you’re rewarded or punished depending on your actions. For example, let’s say you’ve made straight As on your report card for several years, but you bring home a B in biology one quarter. Your father takes you aside and, without mentioning the A’s, tells you how disappointed he is in that one B. He tells you you’re lazy and won’t get into a good college unless you have all As. He threatens to punish you if you ever again bring home a grade less than an A. Then he stonewalls you for a solid month because of the B.
That’s a performance-based relationship. If you meet or exceed expectations, you’re rewarded (or at least not punished.) If you don’t, not only will you be deprived of affection, you’ll also be threatened with retribution.
Would you call a performance-based relationship “love”? Some people do. They believe caring for somebody is primarily about judging their behavior, pointing out their mistakes, and administering discipline.
I’m not so sure. I was the kid who got a B in biology. My dad and I had a one-way, performance-based relationship. When my parents divorced, and he cut me off—forever—it confirmed what I’d always suspected. He saw me as an unsuccessful project, not a beloved son.
Why do SO MANY of us believe our relationship with God is like that? I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard people say they aren’t worthy of God’s love or have committed an unforgivable sin. I can’t reconcile a God like that with the One who died on a Cross for me. How about you?
If you want to hear more, my sermon title this week is “You Are Enough.”
(You are, you know?) See you Sunday!
Pastor Vann
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