The Performance Trap

Hove you all, praying for you. 
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells you of the promised Messiah – who came for your Salvation. So you can live eternally with God not eternally separate from Him…  So you can be free from sin, for the rest of your life.  What you were once a slave to, you are no longer bound by… you’re free.  It also tells you of the promised Holy Spirit – who will fill you with power, and lead you into all truth.  He gives discernment.  So Heavenly Father – would you send your Spirit of Discernment, in Jesus Name.   Have you ever heard someone talk of the performance trap?  They’re talking about the lie from the enemy that you have to do things, to measure up, to earn God’s love or forgiveness, or to earn your salvation.  That is just a lie.  God loves you for you, He loved you when you were yet a sinner, when you hated him, and rejected him, or didn’t even know about him, or think about him.  He created you, He loves you enough to die in your place.  And He loves His children.  That’s why He came to earth in a human suit…  so you could become a child of God by putting your faith in Him.  To become a part of His family, forever to live with Him.  So then why do some people still think that they have to do things – to earn His love.  It’s just deception, that the enemy uses often and effectively.  The result is people always striving for something unreachable.  You couldn’t do enough to earn his love.  You were separated from God because of the sin of Adam and Eve – you were born in sin, that’s why your parents never had to train you to do something wrong, it came naturally.  But when you put your faith in Jesus’ death – in your place to cover your sin, like God’s Word promises… you are a new creation.  The old is passed away, and the new has come.  New life, new identity!  It’s who you are in Christ.  Because Jesus you are forgiven, loved, adopted.  But there are some things that you now do… that reflect this new life in Christ.  Jesus said, “Follow me.”  (that means, Do what I do, Do what I tell you to do).  He didn’t say – Follow the Rules, or work hard to earn it.  He already earned it.   You are loved forever by your heavenly Father, because if you received Him, believed Him, and committed your life to Him.  You are now His child.  And as a perfect Heavenly Father – His love for you is unconditional.  So The performance trap – is just a lie – meant to make you feel unloved, and unworthy.  The sneaky part of it.  It’s true, but not all true.  You are unworthy, but He is worthy…  and He’s got you.  What’s not true of that deception… you’re not unloved.  You are loved with an everlasting love.  If you don’t know this love, because you haven’t given your life to God, through Jesus – see the PRISM Topic - Salvation First.  It is the best gift you could ever receive.  No strings attached to receive it.  Just Admit, Believe, and Commit.   But afterwards, there will be some fruit of it.  Some people believe – it doesn’t matter what you do, or even, “God doesn’t care what you do.  He just wants you to be. You’re a human being, not a human doing.”  Sounds good, but is that true?  Some people get confused by that.  It’s true, but it’s not the complete story.  God does care about what you do.  He said, “I know the plans I have for you.”  He’s got things for you to do!  He said, I will instruct you in the way best for you, the way chosen for you.  Does that sound like He doesn’t care what you do?  That’s not what His Word says.  The truth is - if you are something, it will be reflected in what you do.  Jesus didn’t come to be.  He came to do.  Do what?  Die in your place.  Jesus said, I only do what my Heavenly Father tells me to do.  So Jesus wasn’t just a human being, he was also a human, doing.  What you do, reveals who you are, and whose you are, and what you believe.  James said that Abraham was counted righteous, not just for what He believed, but what He did, when He offered his Son Isaac, in obedience to His Father in Heaven.  God said I have found David son of Jesse, he will be what I want him to be…  No, that’s not what it says.  God said, I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart (what made him that?) He will do everything I want him to do.  God’s Word says Even a child is known by his beliefs….  No, it doesn’t say that – it says even a child is known by his actions (his doings).  We are human beings – we came to be when God breathed life into us.  But we are also human doings.  That’s why God said,  I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.  God’s plans for you are not just to be – He has things for you to do!  Just like Jesus, Just like Abraham, and Gideon, and Paul, and David, and you!  So what’s the difference between the doings that God has for you, and the performance trap?  Let me ask you a question.  Husbands, do you ever do the dishes for your wife, or take out the trash?  Why do help with the dishes, or change a diaper, or run to the grocery, or fill her gas tank?  Are you worried she won’t love you anymore if you don’t?   No, you just do those things because you love her and want to make her life a little easier.  You share the load, and lift her burdens.  Like when you bring her flowers when its not Valentines, or her birthday.  You’re not trying to earn her love, or trying to get her to love you.  You’re not loved because you did something.  You love, and that’s why you do something.  You just love her and it’s a joy for you.  Wives, do you ever make dinner for your husband?  Is it because you are trying to earn his love?  Are you afraid he’ll divorce you if you don’t make him dinner?  No, you just do it because you love him.  That’s the difference between the performance trap, and the language of love.  Motive.  Love for God is obeying.  There’s definitely a doing involved.  But its not because you are trying to earn his love, it’s because He loved you first, and you just do what He commands because you love him, and it’s a joy!  Obedience is a joy!  It’s a path, not a list.  It’s because of who you are – that you do what God tells you to do.  You love Him by obeying.  And your doing reflects your being.   Praying that you won’t fall into the performance trap, but that you will equally not fall into the being trap.  There is no such thing as just being.  Jesus came to do.  Adam was put in the garden to do.  And God promised that He will fulfill the purpose He has for you.  There are some things He wants you to do!   You just need to Get His Plans for you (they’re awesome).  And then just do whatever He tells you.  It’s the best life ever!  God said He has things for you to do – His plans for you are better than you could even imagine – like heavens are higher than the earth.  He loves you for who you are, and He leads you to do the things that He has ordained for you to do – since he formed you in your mother’s womb.  Praying that you’ll know the joy of being… a child of the King.  And that you’ll know the joy of doing… everything Your Father has planned for you, and tells you to do…  Just like Jesus did. 
 
Love you all,
dad