“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).
On any given day, I try not to consider myself a “good” Christian or a “bad” Christian. Instead, I choose to focus on the Christ in me and what He has done for me. This creates stability in my relationship with Christ. It helps me not to fall prey to the mistaken belief that on “good” days He loves me and on “bad” days… eh, not so much.
That doesn’t mean I am careless about my actions, choices, or attitudes because they create real-life consequences, for better or worse. It does mean my actions, choices and attitudes are not the basis of how God sees me. Therefore, I choose to not make them the basis of how I see me.
In God’s appraisal I am always holy and blameless. He sees me as righteous. Not because I always behave that way, but because that is what Christ has made me by His blood and through my faith in Him.
Because I believe that to be true, I am inspired to always draw near to Him, even when I am my own worst enemy. I do so, expecting to receive what He promised always awaits me: mercy and grace to help me in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). What kind of help? He tells me the truth. The truth about my actions, choices, and attitudes, and the truth about my unchanging, beloved status with Him. The result is a deeper, richer and more authentic relationship with the One who chose me – at my best and at my worst – to forever belong to Himself.
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