Self Imposed Barriers

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’" - Matt 9:13

"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." - Rom 9:16

"And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry." -Luke 15:21-24

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.'" -Luke 15:28-31

"What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”" Romans 9:30-33

It is better to be loved than to be worthy. Yet when we desire justification more than mercy we allow our desire to be held in honor outweigh our desire, our deeper desire, to simply be held.

It is never our sin or failure that keeps us from receiving love, rather it is our grasping for righteousness and justification. We insist on obligating others and attempting to earn what can only be given freely as a gift. In so doing we render ourselves incapable of receiving love.

"Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due." Romans 4:4