The Liberating Truth of God's Unfailing Love

GCD Newsletter - Tuesday, March 21st, 2023

Sometimes you read a sentence or passage that grips you and doesn’t let go. Such is the case ever since I read the following words by Timothy Keller:

 “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”

We all want to be loved, but there is a deep fear that if our true self was known we would not be accepted. Thus, we put on a front, or a mask, so to speak. We portray ourselves in a certain way to get the acceptance we desire. When we do receive that “love,” it doesn’t satisfy because deep down we know that it’s not directed to the “real” us.

The truth that “all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account” is, on the one hand, terrifying (Heb. 4:13). Yet, on the other hand, the fact that God knows us so intimately, so precisely, the “real” us and not the one we try to portray to others, is freeing. He knows everything about us, both good and bad and yet he still loves us. He knows our sins and our weaknesses and still doesn’t abandon us.

Last week’s articles remind us that because of the good news of the gospel, we are free to be open and honest with God and others rather than trying to put on a front. And, when we do, the grace of the Lord is a never-ending fountain of love, forgiveness, and acceptance.

In Christ,

James Williams serves as associate pastor at FBC Atlanta, TX. James and his wife, Jenny, are blessed with four children and are actively involved in foster care. He is passionate about beholding the beauty of our Lord and helping others do the same. He enjoys writing, running, and gardening. You can follow James on Twitter or his blog where he writes regularly.

Last Week at GCDiscipleship.com

How “You Too” Can Heal
by Zach Barnhart

“Sin turns unashamed vulnerability into a desperate fashioning of camouflage. Not only does sin steal our joy and kill our intimacy with God, but it destroys our desire to be seen for who we really are.”

Don’t “Give Yourself Grace”
by John Beeson

“When we give ourselves grace, we tend to substitute a ‘letting off the hook’ or ‘lowering the bar’ mentality for the richness of God’s unmerited favor. When I ‘give myself grace,’ I can coddle my sin, deny my sin or excuse my unfaithfulness. When I ‘give myself grace,’ I turn within to my own broken cisterns of self-love and finite ability to satiate my thirst.”

Cultivating Love For Jesus
by Jeremy Writebol

“We can have ministry success without ministry faithfulness. Furthermore, we may believe that because we are experiencing some evidence of ministry success we are doing it the right way, and therefore being successful. It is in this space that our loves can become disordered.”

Jeremy Writebol, Executive Director of GCD, has recently released a new book entitled "Pastor, Jesus is Enough." In this book, Writebol guides readers through the words of Jesus in Revelation 2-3, reminding us that in times of brokenness and hopelessness, Jesus is enough. Pastors face a multitude of challenges, including family issues, divisions within the church, and false accusations. Writebol's book encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and to trust that Jesus is sufficient to sustain us through these challenges. He urges readers to keep their eyes fixed on Christ, who has the power to rescue us from our weaknesses, failures, and sorrows.

Click here to find out more about the book, or to pick up a copy for yourself or your pastor: