Many people delay making a commitment to God because they want to "clean themselves up" first by trying to change attitudes or behaviors. But the truth is the Lord loves each of us just the way we are. Christ didn't wait for us to "clean up"He paid our sin-debt "while we were yet sinners." (Romans 5:8).

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO IMPROVE OURSELVES?

    We don't have to improve ourselves; in fact, improving the old self is impossible. The message of the Cross is that we needed deliverance, not improvement. God completely removes our old self and replaces it with Himself; the result is that each believer is a "new creation" in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

OUR DELIVERANCE WAS COSTLY TO GOD

    Because God is love (1 John 4:16), you may think our deliverance was effortless for Him, but it came at a high price. The Father had to send His only Son to be betrayed, broken, beaten, humiliated, and murdered. However, the physical pain was only part of the torture; Jesus' deeper anguish is revealed in the words He cried from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). At that moment, almighty God separated Himself from His Son, with whom He had lived in perfect union for all eternity. The most profound demonstration of the Father's love for us was not that He allowed His Son to die, but that He turned His back on Jesus so the Son could taste hell and death in place of all men. If we resist this love even by striving to earn God's favor for ourselves, then we are in effect telling Him His sacrifice was not enough.

WHAT IS GOD'S MOTIVATION FOR FORGIVENESS?

    If you have trouble accepting God's unconditional love, prayerfully consider the price paid for your forgiveness. Could you have paid the price? No. Only God could have done it. He did so because He knew you couldn't improve upon your own sinfulness, and because He loves you . . . just as you are.

Question for Reflection: People who fail to understand God's unconditional love often try to "work their way up" to Him. How may you have tried to earn God's favor? (Think about your motivation behind good works you have done.)