In the ExploreFaith.org newsletter, I came across a book excerpt from Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God by Jim Palmer. The author describes the moment he realized that God's love is not contigent on anything we can do for him. As Palmer puts it:
What if there isn't anything I can do for God? What if he just wants me to lean against his face and receive his love? What if this phantom Christian I have been chasing is just a big distraction from resting in what God wants to really give? What if my value and worth to God are not contingent on what I do? Maybe this is why I am so tired inside. My soul has only so much energy, and the bulk of mine is being drained through striving to earn God's love and acceptance. What would it be like to truly know there isn't one more thing I ever have to do for God in order for him to be pleased with me?
I certainly believe that God wants us to live our lives by certain standards (e.g, the Ten Commandments). I also believe that God wants us to live with purpose and find our unique way to contribute to the world. But God's love isn't contingent on these things.
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