"We accept the love we think we deserve."
-The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Question: How is this somewhat ambiguous quote found on the internet relevant to God?
I think that this is actually a really important point to consider in how we approach Christianity. Why? Because exactly like the quote states, we accept the love we think we deserve, and more often than not, the love we think we deserve is so much less than what God intends for us. In doing this we limit God’s love for us, confining it worldly parameters that just aren't there when it comes to Him.
Often, while we accept that Jesus died for our sins we feel almost as though God’s love for us is grudging or a mere by-product of the universality of His love because we do not think we deserve His love. We avoid accepting it in its fullness.
But therein lies the problem… by believing that we are too wretched for His love we lessen the love of God; the love displayed on the cross.
Jesus lived the life we could not and died the death we deserved. In His death, He became separated from his Father (with whom He has been in perfect relationship with since before the dawn of time) and taking upon himself the agony of all the sin of all of humanity past, present and future and the consequent wrath of God.
We do not deserve this love. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, about us that deserves what Jesus did for us. But that’s the point.
If we only accept the love we think we deserve then no one will ever be able to accept the love and sacrifice of Christ because we do not think we deserve it.
This is grace, the very nature of love that is true. To accept a love that falls short of the complete and perfect love that God has for us is to deny the true power of God’s saving grace and merciful love.
So don’t accept the love you think you deserve. Accept Him, accept the love you don't deserve.
I think that this is actually a really important point to consider in how we approach Christianity. Why? Because exactly like the quote states, we accept the love we think we deserve, and more often than not, the love we think we deserve is so much less than what God intends for us. In doing this we limit God’s love for us, confining it worldly parameters that just aren't there when it comes to Him.
Often, while we accept that Jesus died for our sins we feel almost as though God’s love for us is grudging or a mere by-product of the universality of His love because we do not think we deserve His love. We avoid accepting it in its fullness.
But therein lies the problem… by believing that we are too wretched for His love we lessen the love of God; the love displayed on the cross.
Jesus lived the life we could not and died the death we deserved. In His death, He became separated from his Father (with whom He has been in perfect relationship with since before the dawn of time) and taking upon himself the agony of all the sin of all of humanity past, present and future and the consequent wrath of God.
We do not deserve this love. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, about us that deserves what Jesus did for us. But that’s the point.
If we only accept the love we think we deserve then no one will ever be able to accept the love and sacrifice of Christ because we do not think we deserve it.
This is grace, the very nature of love that is true. To accept a love that falls short of the complete and perfect love that God has for us is to deny the true power of God’s saving grace and merciful love.
So don’t accept the love you think you deserve. Accept Him, accept the love you don't deserve.
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