Embracing God's Unconditional Love Over Fleeting Approval

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves entangled in the pursuit of approval rather than embracing the unconditional love that God offers. This distinction between approval and love is crucial, as it shapes our relationship with God and others. Approval is something we can control and earn through our actions, but it is fleeting and burdensome. Love, on the other hand, is a gift that is freely given, independent of our achievements or failures. It requires us to relinquish control and trust in God's faithfulness to fill us with His love.

Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 4, we are reminded that we possess a treasure in jars of clay. The focus should not be on the fragility of the jars but on the treasure within, which is the light of Christ. This treasure is the grace and love of God, which is overwhelming and transformative. It is essential to shift our attention from our weaknesses to the richness of God's grace.

In our workplaces and daily lives, we often confuse love with approval, seeking validation through achievements and accolades. This pursuit can become an addiction, leaving us empty and constantly striving for more. However, God's love is not based on our performance. It is a steadfast love that remains even when we fall short. Embracing this love requires humility and a willingness to let go of our need for control.

The Song of Solomon and 1 Peter 2 remind us of the depth of God's love and the natural instinct to seek Him. Just as a newborn instinctively seeks nourishment from its mother, we are called to seek the pure spiritual milk from God. This direct connection with God is vital for our spiritual growth and fulfillment.

Ultimately, our task is to receive God's love and let it transform us. This love is not transactional but relational, inviting us into a deeper intimacy with God. As we practice receiving His love, we prepare ourselves for eternity, where we will fully experience His love in all its glory. This is the essence of our faith journey: to be loved by God and to love Him in return.

Key Takeaways:

1. Distinguishing Love from Approval: Understanding the difference between love and approval is crucial in our spiritual journey. Approval is earned and fleeting, while love is a gift that requires trust in God's faithfulness. Embracing God's love frees us from the burden of seeking validation through achievements. [07:20]

2. The Treasure in Jars of Clay: Our focus should be on the treasure within us, the light of Christ, rather than our weaknesses. This treasure is the grace and love of God, which is transformative and overwhelming. Shifting our attention to this treasure allows us to experience the fullness of God's grace. [04:22]

3. The Natural Instinct to Seek God: Just as a newborn instinctively seeks nourishment, we are called to seek God directly. This connection is vital for our spiritual growth and fulfillment, allowing us to experience the depth of God's love. [13:18]

4. The Transformative Power of God's Love: God's love is not based on our performance but is a steadfast love that remains even when we fall short. Embracing this love requires humility and a willingness to let go of our need for control, allowing God's love to transform us. [09:13]

5. Preparing for Eternity: Our task is to receive God's love and let it transform us, preparing us for eternity where we will fully experience His love. This relational love invites us into deeper intimacy with God, which is the essence of our faith journey. [25:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:09] - A Transformative Conversation
- [02:34] - The Burden of Sin
- [03:50] - Treasure in Jars of Clay
- [05:05] - Reflections on Work and Approval
- [06:08] - The Allure of Approval
- [07:20] - Love vs. Approval
- [09:13] - Trusting God's Love
- [10:58] - Song of Solomon and God's Love
- [12:12] - Longing for Spiritual Milk
- [14:12] - Direct Connection with God
- [16:24] - Intimacy with Christ
- [18:48] - Exchanging Approval for Love
- [21:06] - God's Love in Scripture
- [25:13] - Preparing for Eternity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
2. Song of Solomon 2:3-4
3. 1 Peter 2:2-3

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Observation Questions:

1. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, what does Paul mean by describing us as "jars of clay"? How does this imagery relate to the treasure within us? [04:03]

2. How does the Song of Solomon 2:3-4 illustrate the depth of God's love for us? What imagery is used to convey this love? [11:13]

3. According to 1 Peter 2:2-3, what is the significance of longing for "pure spiritual milk"? How does this relate to our spiritual growth? [12:12]

4. In the sermon, what distinction is made between love and approval, and how does this affect our relationship with God? [07:20]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding ourselves as "jars of clay" with a treasure inside change our perspective on our weaknesses and God's grace? [04:22]

2. What does the natural instinct to seek God, as described in 1 Peter 2, suggest about our relationship with Him? How does this instinct manifest in our daily lives? [13:18]

3. How does the sermon suggest that the pursuit of approval can become burdensome and addictive? What are the implications of this for our spiritual well-being? [08:09]

4. In what ways does the sermon describe God's love as transformative, and how does this transformation prepare us for eternity? [25:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you sought approval over love. How did it affect your relationship with God and others? What steps can you take to shift your focus to God's unconditional love? [07:20]

2. How can you practice focusing on the "treasure" within you rather than your weaknesses this week? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of God's grace? [04:22]

3. In what ways can you cultivate a direct connection with God, similar to a newborn seeking nourishment? What changes can you make in your daily routine to prioritize this connection? [13:18]

4. Consider an area of your life where you struggle to relinquish control. How can you practice humility and trust in God's love to transform this area? [09:13]

5. How can you prepare yourself for eternity by receiving and embracing God's love more fully in your life? What specific actions can you take to deepen your intimacy with God? [25:13]

6. Identify a situation in your workplace or daily life where you confuse love with approval. How can you approach this situation differently, focusing on God's steadfast love? [06:08]

7. Think of a person in your life who needs to experience God's love. How can you demonstrate this love to them in a tangible way this week? [41:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Unconditional Love Over Fleeting Approval
In our spiritual journey, it is vital to distinguish between seeking approval and embracing the unconditional love that God offers. Approval is something we can earn through our actions, but it is often temporary and burdensome. It can lead us to constantly strive for validation through achievements and accolades, leaving us feeling empty. In contrast, God's love is a gift that is freely given, independent of our successes or failures. It requires us to relinquish control and trust in God's faithfulness. By embracing this love, we free ourselves from the burden of seeking validation and allow ourselves to be filled with God's transformative grace. [07:20]

Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking approval from others rather than resting in God's unconditional love? How can you begin to shift your focus today?


Day 2: Focusing on the Treasure Within
We are reminded that we possess a treasure in jars of clay, as described in 2 Corinthians 4. The focus should not be on the fragility of the jars but on the treasure within, which is the light of Christ. This treasure is the grace and love of God, which is overwhelming and transformative. By shifting our attention from our weaknesses to the richness of God's grace, we can experience the fullness of His love. This perspective allows us to see beyond our limitations and embrace the transformative power of God's presence in our lives. [04:22]

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

Reflection: What weaknesses or limitations are you focusing on that prevent you from seeing the treasure of God's grace within you? How can you shift your perspective to embrace His transformative power?


Day 3: Seeking God with Instinctive Longing
Just as a newborn instinctively seeks nourishment from its mother, we are called to seek the pure spiritual milk from God. This natural instinct to seek God is vital for our spiritual growth and fulfillment. By nurturing this direct connection with God, we can experience the depth of His love and allow it to nourish our souls. This longing for God is an essential part of our faith journey, inviting us to draw closer to Him and experience His love in profound ways. [13:18]

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV): "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper longing for God in your daily life? What practices can you incorporate to nurture your spiritual growth and connection with Him?


Day 4: Allowing God's Love to Transform Us
God's love is not based on our performance but is a steadfast love that remains even when we fall short. Embracing this love requires humility and a willingness to let go of our need for control. By allowing God's love to transform us, we open ourselves to a deeper intimacy with Him. This transformation is not transactional but relational, inviting us to experience the fullness of His love and grace. As we practice receiving His love, we prepare ourselves for eternity, where we will fully experience His love in all its glory. [09:13]

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: What areas of your life are you holding onto control, preventing God's love from fully transforming you? How can you practice humility and openness to His transformative love today?


Day 5: Preparing for Eternity with God's Love
Our task is to receive God's love and let it transform us, preparing us for eternity where we will fully experience His love. This relational love invites us into deeper intimacy with God, which is the essence of our faith journey. By embracing this love, we align ourselves with God's eternal purpose and prepare our hearts for the fullness of His presence. This preparation is not just for the future but impacts how we live our lives today, inviting us to love God in return and reflect His love to others. [25:13]

1 John 4:16-17 (ESV): "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world."

Reflection: How can you actively prepare your heart for eternity by embracing God's love today? What steps can you take to deepen your intimacy with Him and reflect His love to those around you?

Quotes

"Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 4, it talks about how we have this treasure in Jars of Clay right and it's referring to the Light of Christ. Almost all the times that I have heard this passage talked about, we talk about the jars of clay and that becomes the focus of the conversation. But the thing that really deserves our attention is the treasure." [00:03:56]

"I think the, there and this it's interesting there are a lot of conversations that happen outside of work that help me to start to have realizations about who I was at work, and a lot of those conversations are conversations that I have with our friends on a weekly basis but and certainly with my wife and in really even in conversation with my kids." [00:05:15]

"Probably 98 of my life now I have confused the idea of love and approval and I actually don't know exactly where it started but from a very very young age I as far as back as I can remember I began to orient my life around approval and I think part of it is because I found from a young age that I was good at securing approval." [00:05:48]

"Love, especially when you first start, feels so scary because it's fully dependent on someone else making this decision independent of anything that I've earned accomplished. And so to sort of humbly release that control and say okay I want this well of positive regard that I'm receiving from somebody else I want it to be filled by love." [00:08:37]

"Just as a newborn instinctively seeks nourishment, we are called to seek God directly. This connection is vital for our spiritual growth and fulfillment, allowing us to experience the depth of God's love. It's the picture of a newborn babe whose most natural instinct you know we both have children and it's fascinating that they're born and no one teaches them." [00:13:18]

"I think at least a couple of things. One is of course just going back and as I've one of the things I love about how we've designed or architected that our house Church model is you know we've had to go through a scripture many times over the course of the many years and so some of the themes start to come out." [00:21:03]

"There is like an assumption or a presupposition as we read through all of this that God loves us that he is the king and that he loves us or maybe like two just very clear presumptions that run through all of scripture. And you know you get it right at right at the start right when sin enters the world." [00:21:46]

"Jesus is even now like pleading my case before the father like that's what he wants he wants to see like me in glory that's what he's looking forward to that posture towards me softens me and it helps to take apart this natural tendency I have to turn God into something that he's not into someone who is cold." [00:23:36]

"There will be a point when we enter into heaven and there all of the kind of things that right now seem to mute our experience of his love the distances that still remain in various ways they will be removed and we will get to experience love right capital L love in all its totality." [00:24:46]

"I think our primary job if you will like our primary task or or like what's Central to our life will be to receive that love like that's how we glorify him as love is to receive his love it would be terrible if there is the most glorious love that all glorious love in this place." [00:25:13]

"I've been trying to to earn it somehow and I'm grateful that I have a fear of the Lord and there's a foundation and that is the beginning of wisdom and and it keeps me from and that from some sin and that is biblical but there's this other side of love that I think most of us don't know how to receive." [00:41:45]

"I want everyone to see this good news of God's love is not like this approval that you've been seeking from so many people and probably from God himself." [00:45:37]

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Transcript
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