The grace of God is not of this world, yet it can transform us to live effectively in this world.
We live in a world that approves, accepts, or rejects us, based on our performance.
Parents, to some degree, we even do this to our children on report card day. Our kids come home from school. They show us their reports cards and we say, “You did a great job! I’m so proud of you.”
By doing this, our kids learn that our satisfaction in them is attached to what they accomplish, instead of who they are. Don’t get me wrong! We should tell our kids we’re proud of their performance. However, we should tell them we’re proud of them before their performance. And as they experience our love and acceptance of them, it will make them work even harder in school to get good grades because they realize our love and satisfaction of them is located in them simply being our children.
This is the type of divine encouragement that Jesus received when He was baptized in Matthew 3:17, “and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’“
Before Jesus did any miracles or performance, His Papa in heaven said, “You are My heart (beloved). I love You. I am pleased with You.”
How could Jesus not have a healthy self-view with this type of divine encouragement being spoken over Him?
And you know what? Because you have faith in Jesus, Jesus’ perfect performance has been given to you as a gift (Hebrews 10:14-17; Phil. 3:7-10). And God the Papa says to you, “You are My heart. I love you. I am pleased with you.” Watch how your life transforms by these words of grace.
So go along now, and give someone else the same divine encouragement you’ve received. That’s what leaders do. This is transformative leadership.
