Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6, ERV)

Our life’s journey reveals a sobering truth: despite our best efforts, our version of "goodness" often falls short. No matter how many good deeds we do or the heights of moral standards we aim to reach, our human nature keeps us from perfection. Our most heartfelt efforts, while noble, can't bridge the gap between us and God.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about our righteousness with great imagery:

All of us are dirty with sin [became like an unclean/defiled thing]. All the right things we have done [our righteous deeds] are like filthy pieces of cloth [filthy garments/rags; or a menstrual cloth]. All of us are [fade; shrivel] like dead leaves, and our sins [iniquities], like the wind, have carried us away. (Isaiah 64:6, Expanded Bible)

This brings to light a liberating truth, : You don’t have to impress God. In fact, you can't impress Him. Your best to impress falls way short.

That said, he isn’t sitting on a distant throne, tallying your deeds, waiting for you to reach a certain benchmark of goodness. God’s love for you isn’t based on your actions or merits—it's based on Christ dying for you. Period.

In recognizing this, you can let go of the pressure to be good and flawless, and instead embrace the grace He offers freely.

Prayer:

Lord, I may make an impression on you, but you're not impressed by me. I strive to be good, but my goodness isn't good enough for you to love me. You love me because of Christ's blood sacrifice. Period. When I was unable to help myself, Christ died for me. Thank you. Help me to live in the light of your undeserved grace and love that defies logic. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does it feel knowing Christ died for you even in your imperfect state?

2. In what area(s) of your life are you trying to impress God or earn his love?

3. Based on your response to number two, why does it occur to you that you need to impress God or earn his love?

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Watch Sunday's Message: When Love Defies Logic

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