Earned vs Ordained

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”- Romans 5:6-8

Years ago, God spoke something to me that changed my whole perception of Christ's sacrifice and our call to ministry. He told me, "Love is not earned. It's ordained."

I am so glad that I didn't have to earn the love of my Father. I thank God that Jesus did not test my loyalty to Him before He shed blood on my behalf. Instead, He loved us, while we were yet sinners, and fulfilled the plan of the Father for His life. He was more pleased with pleasing God than being pleased by those He was called to serve!

Imagine what would happen if those of us who claim to be like Christ did not require others to gain our affections, earn our love or live up to our expectations before receiving acts of kindness from us. It's so easy for us to make requirements of others before we serve them, rather than simply operating as God has called us. As joint heirs with Christ, we should be givers, but we always want accountability from the one who is to receive. As children of God, we should forgive, but we always want an apology and explanation before we allow bygones to be bygones. As ambassadors of Christ, we are ordained to live holy, but we require a prophetic word and a promise from God for natural wealth and riches before we are willing to sacrifice sin.

When will we learn to operate based on our call to perfection, rather than the pretense that someone owes us, including God? Sure, we're willing to operate with the love of God -- as long as we get something out of it. May God help us to move past this doctrine of entitlement and back into the sanctified, ORDAINED nature of God for the believer. Oh, to be like Christ!