servant vs. child

Today at church, our pastor shared a message on how to relax in God's grace. And since the recent theme of this blog has been on grace, I wanted to share a list that he shared with us. He compared the difference between our understanding of our relationship with God, whether as merely a servant or as a child of His and what each description derives it's approval or acceptance from. Take a look at it and see if you are experiencing the grace of God that comes in being a child of God...

A servant is accepted and appreciated because of:
1. what he does
2. anxious/worried that his work will be pleasing to his master
3. his workmanship
4. productivity and performance
5. his worth is proven by his work
6. when he fails, his position is at stake
7. conditional performance

But a child is accepted and appreciated because of:
1. who he is
2. secure in the love of his family
3. his relationship
4. his position in the family
5. his worth is secure knowing that tomorrow won't change his status
6. when a child fails, he's not afraid of being thrown out of the family
7. unconditional love

Again, how much of the grace of God we can experience is based on how we understand and receive that grace. God is always willing to give us and is constantly showering us with his grace, but only when we act upon it through faith can we experience it. Today, believe that God sees you as His child.