From Acceptance to Approval: Living a Life That Pleases the Fatherಮಾದರಿ

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S LOVE AND GOD’S REWARDS

There is a critical distinction every believer must understand: God’s love is free, but His rewards are conditional. Romans 8:32 (KJV) reminds us, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” God’s love is abundant, unmerited, and unwavering. Nothing we do can make Him love us more or less. Romans 8:35–39 further assures us that no tribulation, distress, persecution, or any created thing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. His love is eternal, but His approval and rewards are earned through faithfulness and obedience.

The problem many Christians face is misunderstanding this distinction. They expect God to bless them abundantly simply because He loves them. While God's love grants us access to salvation and His blessings, His rewards and deeper trust are reserved for those who diligently seek to please Him. A child may be loved by a father, but it is the obedient child who receives special assignments, deeper conversations, and greater inheritance. You must not confuse the love that is freely given with the approval that must be diligently pursued. Divine rewards are tied to responsibility, discipline, and alignment with the Father’s heart.

I want you to learn that your goal should not just be to enjoy the Father's love, but to live in such a way that you qualify for His commendation and rewards. Pleasing the Father positions you for exploits beyond imagination. Don't settle for the baseline of salvation alone; rise into sonship that commands heaven's applause. As you grow, let your motivation be deeper than receiving blessings; let it be to gladden the Father's heart. That is the path of the true sons and daughters who grow beyond acceptance into divine approval.

THOUGHT TO PONDER: Have you been mixing up God's love and God's rewards in your expectations? How can you live daily in a way that consciously seeks to please the Father and not just enjoy His love?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your everlasting love that never fails. Teach me to grow into maturity, to live faithfully, and to seek Your approval daily. Help me to pursue not just Your blessings but to live as a son that brings You joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.