Freedom from Performance

Last time we looked at the unconditional Good News of Jesus, the Gospel. This Good News issues us the challenge to view ourselves and others differently as we look through the lens of Christ. Over the next several weeks we will glance at specific shifts that should take place allowing our viewpoint to better align with Jesus’. The first of those is that we are free from performing.

If nothing we do can make Jesus love us more, than we can stop putting ourselves through the hoops of performance for performance's sake. Performance implies playing a role for an audience, but even with God as our audience, genuine authentic interaction is the desire, not performance. This is what happens in close intimate relationships. When we love unconditionally we are free to express our deepest selves without the pressure of expectation.

Of course, as we are willing to be authentic, we must also give permission for others to be genuine as well. Releasing them from meeting our expectations is tough and yet will demonstrate Christ’s work in us faster than nearly anything else. This is part of the very essence of Paul’s words in Philippians:

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.  (Philippians 3:13-14 ESV)

So as we seek to grasp Christ’s unconditional Good News let’s enjoy the freedom from performance that has been granted, instead seeking to bask in the fullness of the Good News for us and others!