Approval

From an In Touch devotional: “For many years I had the idea that, though my salvation was by faith, God’s approval had to be earned. So I did my best but never felt it was good enough. I struggled, failed, tried again, and failed once more. I am grateful the Lord directed me to His better way.”

That sentence touched me, for it could mirror my attempts. I do not need to earn God’s approval, for I have His love.

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

This verse comes much later in John’s writing. It’s truth is given much earlier, with greater emphasis:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

There are consequences, though, if we do not believe His love.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17-18 KJV)

The writer of that first paragraph, and I myself, missed a point early in our Christian walk:

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40 KJV)

We want to please God. Because we are so aware of our sins (both before and after salvation), we think we must make up for them. We neglected the old verses:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18 KJV)

God has told us of His free gifts:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12 KJV)

Our service to Him is not an obligation whereby we achieve approval, it is the desire of our hearts to seek and serve within His will. This is our reasonable service.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:10 KJV)

It is our love for God that instills the desire to serve Him, not fear of disapproval

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:18 KJV)