Recently, my 7 year old son told my 4 year old daughter that he didn’t want to play right now,  he said he wanted his alone time. She was obviously hurt and disappointed as she walked slowly away with her head down(I have dramatic children). Jessica went into her room and sat forlornly on her bed. After a little while in deep thought, she jumped up and got to work in her kitchen. She finished up her creation, a little yellow structure of Legos, and marched proudly off to her big brother's room, with a big smile on her face, she said, “Zachary, I made you a muffin!”

Where did she get the idea that, if he doesn’t want to be with me, giving him a present, making him something will change everything? Was she simply born with the idea of working to make people like her or make others happy!? I remember laughing at the time but later, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It bothered me. How often did I do the same thing with God?

I’d been a Christian long enough to know, at least academically, that God would never turn away from me or want His alone time! He "will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb 13:5 

God desires to spend time with us and He is never busy or tired or thinking about something else. In fact, it was God who invited each one of us into a relationship to begin with, He loved us even when we were unlovable. Romans 5:8 states, that "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

There is nothing we need to do to get His attention, for it is truly by grace we have been saved through faith and this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works (Eph 2:8-9 modified).  It is by grace that He keeps us with an unending love so why do we continue to work so hard when "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags!" Is 64:6

God can not save us anymore than He already has; Jesus can not die on the cross any more than He already did; He can not rise from the dead anymore than he already rose; what He has done for us is already done.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are fully forgiven; there is no justifying to be done. There is nothing we need to do to earn God's approval. He loves us on the basis of what Jesus did, not on the basis of what we do. God desires that we respond to Him out of love and devotion not because we think we have to do certain good works to please Him. People in love are quick to look for things they can do for one another - out of love. This is very different from doing things to earn ones love or approval.  Our role should be one of receiving, of thanksgiving, of loving God with all our heart, soul and strength. Living in response to God's grace should not lead to muffins made to earn His favor but huge delicious muffins made from a sincere devotion to Him.