I looked back at some notes I had taken from a women's conference I attended at the beginning of January. There was a note I had written down that reminded me of being a parent. The speaker said ," You don't have to DO anything to be treasured." I really like that. I like how it speaks to us as children of God as well as speaking to our relationship with our kids. Every mother I know deeply treasures her children. This treasuring is not because the kids were great that day or because they did well in school, but because they belong to her. We need to remember this principle when we think of our relationship with our heavenly Father. He loves us and treasures us, not because we are being good or successful that day, but because we are His.
I was also reminded of this principle recently when teaching some 7th grade girls about the Bible. We did a very quick 4 week overview of the Bible. When we got part way through the Old Testament, they were a little put off by God's promise to His people.
Deuteronomy 30:15 "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.17But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess."
They were surprised God would destroy His people. This two way covenant, you do your part and I'll do mine, is not what we are use to. See, we live in the New Covenant! In this covenant, or promise, it is one sided. God says "I will love you no matter what". God has always loved His people, but now, with our sins atoned for, we are allowed to go before God like we would our own father. In a sense He is saying "You don't have to DO anything to be treasured, I already did it, now you are mine."
What an assurance that is! God treasures us and wants good things for us. Why do we not trust him? Why do we not feel treasured? It is because we accept the lies of the Deciever says "You are mine, I have bought you with a price, I love you with an everlasting love." Wow! I am His no matter what I DO. I am treasured because I am His . . . and so are you.
