(Be blessed by this DWOD for Feb. 21, 2014 by guest contributor, Barry Adams)

Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.(Matthew 16:13-17)

 

Jesus was as much a son when He was lying in swaddling clothes in the manger as when He was doing amazing miracles. In His heavenly Father’s eyes, it didn’t matter whether Jesus was doing great exploits in full time ministry or helping His earthly father (Joseph) run the family’s small carpentry business. Jesus was the only begotten Son of the Father who was loved completely and unconditionally all the time.

 

Jesus’ sonship was not defined by what He did, but who He was. His place in His Father’s heart was based on relationship and not on His accomplishments. In the orphan world system that we live in, often the measuring stick we use to find our value is rooted in some form of achievement. Whether it is through getting a good report card as a child, or going the extra mile at work or church. In the culture that we live in, often there is a direct correlation between achieving and feeling loved and accepted.

 

It is not that the desire to achieve is wrong because it isn’t. Jesus Himself told His disciples that they would do greater works than Him because He was going to His Father.

 

But how do we feel when we are not achieving? Do we feel any less loved and valued? When we are not able to contribute to society in the ways that our society expects, then what? Who are we then? If there was ever a haven of rest from this performance-based life, you would think it should be the church, right? After all, we are called to love each other and prefer one another just as Jesus has loved us, right?

 

While the church should be the safest place on earth for people to feel loved for who they are and not what they do, it is not always the case. Often the need to sustain all of the programs of the church creates an atmosphere of guilt and shame for those who are not ‘pulling their own weight’ to keep the hamster wheel turning and turning.

 

Instead of teaching new believers to truly learn how to receive the unconditional love and acceptance from God, we prepare them for battle, emphasize their servanthood, and challenge them to do, do, do. Again, I will reiterate that doing in itself is good! Doing great exploits for the sake of the kingdom is good! Seeing the kingdom advance is good!

 

However, may we never forget that our value to our Father is never based on what we do. May we always know that the priority of His heart is that we would know that we are His kids, that we are loved and accepted because of the finished work of our elder brother and not by our own works.

 

Like any proud papa, I believe God loves it when we fulfill our destiny, whatever that may be. For some of us, especially those with a ‘type A’ personality, the greatest work that we can do for the kingdom may be to stop trying to work for His kingdom and simply ‘be still and know that He is God’(Psalm 46:10) and rest for a while.

 

My prayer today is that each and every one of us would accomplish what our Papa created us to do because we are loved…not in order to receive His love. I pray that the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation would convince us more today that God loves us simply because He is love and He created us to be loved. No matter what we do or don’t do in this life, that won’t ever change.

 

(Barry Adams is the humble vessel chosen by God to bless the world with the revelation known as the Father’s Love Letter. Along with his wife Annelise, Barry ministers the Father’s Love all over the world. Today’s DWOD is from a post he wrote for A Son’s Life Blog. Please check out his new website: http://www.aboutfathersbusiness.com)