For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 
Galatians 5:6

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For the first nine months after I surrendered my life to Jesus, I was rigorous with myself, even borderline cruel at times. I confessed actual and perceived sins to God every evening on my knees, begging Him to forgive me. At the same time, a war had erupted inside me, and I wasn’t just hearing or feeling the Holy Spirit. It was an intense, confusing time in my life, even though God provided a wonderful mentor with whom I met every Friday for teaching and gentle accountability. This period is the closest I ever came to being a legalist. 

I finally stopped my self-torture when I had the sense that I was clinging to Jesus like a man hugging a lifeguard’s legs after being saved from drowning. I had the distinct sense that He was kind of annoyed by my groveling behavior. So I stopped trying to cram myself into Christianity, to make myself perfect. At the time, it was a little scary because I really had to trust Jesus, that He genuinely loved me and could re-form my inner self if I let Him take the lead.

Sometimes, we are excessively concerned with the do’s and don’ts of Christianity, but “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.” What does faith expressing itself in love look like for you?

Because I have stayed the course over the years, my life has developed a fruitfulness only possible through faith and obedience to Jesus and His Holy Spirit. God has widened and deepened my heart, enabling me to grow in some of His character qualities. Loving others, helping them, or praying for someone I encounter or think of is now a quick reflex of love. The wonderful thing is that there are millions of other people who have also chosen faith and freedom in Jesus, expressing love for God, for self, and for others.

Next Steps

Would you say you are friends with Jesus? Don’t be afraid to answer honestly, instead, take your response to Him today. The primary way to become friends with Jesus is to spend time with Him conversationally in prayer, an ongoing conversation throughout the day. Ask Him to share His heart with you, to show you how He feels about various people you interact with during the day. Ask Him how you can pray for these people, how you might be able to help them, or how you can show and share love.