God Loves Me Just Because He Loves Me!

Dear Friends,

In last month’s newsletter I wrote an article outlining why I believe we were created by God. While many of us labor under the false assumption that God created us mainly to do good works I believe we were created first of all simply to be loved by God.

Perhaps you have heard someone say, “God loves you as you are and not as you should be!” I know we can easily accept this in our head without accepting it in our heart. We are so aware of our humanness that we find it difficult if not impossible to believe that God loves us unreservedly. We might even say His love is unreasonable.

We are so aware of our flaws, sins and frailties that it is difficult for us to come running and dancing into the presence of our Father who loves us as we are, where we are. We are comfortable with the idea of earning love by our works, or forgiveness by penance and passion, but not at ease with a love that is based on nothing we do, say, think, feel or imagine.

This whole idea of the unearned love of God can be very disturbing. Why struggle to do good? Won’t the awareness that God loves us no matter what lead to spiritual laziness and moral looseness? I mean if God is going to love me anyway, why try so hard to earn it? Why be a good guy, attend church, tithe, volunteer to pass out food to the homeless? Why not go have some fun? Party on dude, eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. These appear to be sensible, valid questions.

In reality, quite the opposite is true. For example, I know that my wife loves me as I am and not as I should be. This is not an invitation to infidelity, indifference an “anything goes” attitude. Quite the opposite. I travel a fair amount and often find myself in other states and countries far from home. This means I could do any number of things I wanted and no one would ever know, except me (and God). But my love for Jane keeps me from doing those things that would hurt her if she were to find out about them. Further, my love for others that would be devastated by my moral laxity, and my love for God keep me from doing anything that would hurt Him. Her love calls forth love in me as God’s love calls forth love in me. The more rooted we are in the love of God the more generously we love our faith and practice it.

It is that kind of love that allows us to love ourselves without excuses and without questioning. We love ourselves as we are because we have been convinced that God does so. Some would say that loving ourselves is a form of pride. I believe that loving ourselves is a grateful dependence on God and a realistic appraisal of both our strengths and weaknesses.

When we discover that we are compatible and comfortable with a wide spectrum of people we will have come to terms with our own belovedness and humanness and will understand that Jesus sees us as flawed but good, wounded healers, children of the Father. We can then begin to pray as Thomas Merton did, “I thank God that I am like the rest of men.”
We are special, created in His image, children of the Father, and we are human. We have flaws, warts, wrinkles and we sin. But we must understand we are loved and “His love is based on nothing.’ Were it based on anything we do. And that “anything” were to collapse, then God’s love would crumble as well. That’s not going to happen!

Please forgive the lateness of this newsletter. I was recently in the hospital 3 days with pneumonia. I am now home and recovering. I am improving each days thanks to the prayers of many of you.

God bless,

Mike

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

In addition to the 9 DVD series being available through Wholeness Ministries you can now watch the entire series on YouTube. The book, an excellent training manual, has been taught around the world and is available in English and Spanish. You can buy the Book, CD’s or DVD’s at the Wholeness Shop.

Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
Available on Youtube