Apple of his eye

ARE you ‘religious’?

I’m not – in fact I don’t like that word.

This often puzzles friends of mine who have heard me say that I am a Christian.

For me religion is about rules, traditions, conventions – maybe a perception that certain things must be done to become or remain pleasing to God.

I believe that some people are caught up in religious duty, thinking that by their deeds, church attendance, giving to charity etc they must strive to be close to God. The Christian gospel is much simpler and less stressful.

The Bible tells me that, "by grace you have been saved through faith...not as result of works so that no-one may boast". Since I became a Christian and accepted that Jesus, God’s Son, died for me, I know that being a Christian is about being loved unconditionally. It isn’t about trying to do things so that God will love me – He just does!

So, the things I might have stressed about trying to do to gain His favour, I am now more likely to do from a restful place of assurance of His love for me.

The Bible says that I am ‘the apple of His eye’, even when I mess things up! Wow – that is certainly not a stressful place to be, to know that I am utterly loved - eternally.

What about you? Are you desperately trying to earn His favour? Or do you have a personal relationship with God and know how much He loves you? I recommend the latter!