Amazon currently carries over 417,000 self-improvement books! That’s incredible, right? And some of those may actually be helpful.
For example, many years ago, one of our children was struggling to make friends in Middle School. My wife and I suggested he read “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Without any marketing, this classic, written by Dale Carnegie in 1936, still sells 250,000 copies per year. Reading it helped our son better understand how to have successful friendships. As an adult, he has several good friendships that have endured since that time.
However, we can often think of our reading the Bible as a self-improvement book. As a result, we often get it into our heads that God wants us to improve ourselves so that he will be more satisfied with us. That’s why these kinds of thoughts are so prevalent among Christians. “If I read my Bible and pray more, God will be more satisfied with me.” “If I stop that one sin habit, God will be more satisfied with me.” “If I give more money, God will be more satisfied with me.”
Yet, here’s the freeing truth. Your Father is not using your improvements nor your sins to determine whether he is satisfied with you as his son or daughter. There is something more powerful than your valiant efforts. He is ALWAYS satisfied with you, and here’s why.
“9 By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10
The word propitiation means God the Father is satisfied with you because Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection were 100% enough! This was enough for your sins to be forgiven eternally, not based on how often you confess them. This was enough for your nature, which was sinful, to be removed and replaced with a new nature so that you could become righteous and holy. This was enough for him to move in with you so he could love regardless of your behavior.
Your Father delights in living in you! He’s not waiting for you to become a better Christian. You are in Christ, and Christ is in you, and that is enough!
What about your behavior? Here’s the shocker for many people. The more you believe what Jesus did was enough, the more you will know your Father is satisfied with you. As you do, don’t be surprised if you feel more peaceful and joyful, and begin to see changes in your behavior.
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
Bestselling Author
God’s Best-Kept Secret: Christianity Is Easier Than You Think
