The heart of the Gospel is not in doing, but in being. We are children of God, not because of what we do, but by faith. By doing, we become burdened and don’t experience the beauty of our adoption. This will prevent us from sharing this experience with others. What is the root of your desire for doing, earning, or controlling? Continually check yourself. Do you feel that you have to do something because you’re a Christian? This is bondage! Duty causes us to find the quickest solution, even if it’s built on a shotty foundation. Love should be our motivation. Fully accept this love of Christ. You cannot go and bring the love of Christ to others if you have not fully received it. This love is not responsive based on our successes or failures. Our lives should be an overflow of Christ’s sacrificial love, not motivated by guilt. Grace defines you now, not the standards or pressures you have put on yourself. During times of failures, do you still feel the love of God? Or do you feel that God’s love has lessened? His love will not lessen based on our actions. Knowing this will turn your thoughts away from yourself. Acceptance of this love frees us to be motivated by love. You have worth because you are loved by Christ, not because of anything you’ve done. The pressures and standards which used to define and crush you have passed away. When we embrace this, we are then able to share this with others. If our sharing is done out of duty, when we fail, we will become discouraged. We must be patient with ourselves and with others. Do you feel pressure? Or do you feel the love of God? Does crushing obligation drive you? Or does the sufficiency of Christ allow you to be who you are?