Performance or Relationship?

I must admit, I have a chronic disease that I am working through. Unfortunately my normal state of being is stuck in a performance based world, but the Lord is helping me to overcome and enter in to a more healthy lifestyle that is based on relationship. When you step back from everything for a moment you realize that we really do not believe that we are human beings, but rather human doings? We convince ourselves that we are what we do, but there is a much deeper level to life which delves into the depths of our being. Everything we are and everything we do flows from our being. That is why the most beneficial thing that I can do for myself is work on who I am as an individual.

I have met far to many people that have focused all of their energies on being accepted by some sort of specific crowd by constantly doing and trying to achieve, while in the process they have focused on the external and not the internal. When we do this we enter into an invisible cage of other peoples thoughts, expectations, and requirements. A powerful scripture that has been speaking to me is Ephesians 1:6 which says, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." I am accepted in the family of Christ, not because of my doings or my status among men, but because of my relationship with Christ. I can accomplish many religious goals and fill my day with great causes and tasks, but if this is done at the expense of my relationship with Him what have I truly gained! I am accepted therefore, not because of who I am, but because of who He is! The scripture says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast."

So, if my works do not save me, why do I get caught up in a performance based world trying to achieve grace or acceptance? One of the greatest lessons to learn is that I am what I am because of my relationship with Him. If I would focus more on the concept of "human being" as opposed to "human doing" I believe that what would flow out of us would be significant. Human doings focus on trying to accomplish the Gifts of the Spirit, whereas Human beings focus on manifesting the Fruits of the Spirit. I heard Bro. Terry Shock mention something that brought my focus back in to alignment, he said, "What our gifts will draw, our lack of fruit will repel!"

I am a pilgrim in progress trying to move from a performance based value system into a relational value system!