Skip to main content

 

Recently, I’ve been paying closer attention to the lyrics of some Christian artists. Lines like, “Even at my worst, you’re still there for me…” strike me as a bit odd. I’m aware of what is being communicated, that God never stops loving us regardless. He’s seen the end from the beginning, so there is nothing about us that surprises Him.

The thing is, even at what I would consider “my best” I am in just as dire need of Him as when I am what I consider “at my worst”. There is and never will be a time where I am not absolutely dependent upon Him for all that life is. Hebrews 12:1-2 makes it clear that we are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the One upon Whom our faith depends from start to finish.

The indwelling Person of the Holy Spirit is life within us. He had united us to the death and to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has given us a new heart and a new spirit where He dwells. He is righteousness within us, He is power and anointing for life and ministry within us. He is producing the obedience of Jesus in us. He is all the following in us… producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness meekness and self-control.

God’s love is never dependent on our performance, since nothing in ALL creation can ever separate us from that Love. Grace is not something earned, it is something that is received by believing Him. So…I want to encourage you in this, regardless of whether you are what you think is your best or your worst, you need Him just as much and He is committed to you more than you could ever ask or even imagine. Your particular feelings do not define you, nor God’s Presence with you…ever.

That is why when we do fall…and we do…we can get up and run to Him, Who has already paid for what we have just fallen in; and is waiting to wash us and keep on cleansing us from anything that is not our “best-self” as defined by Him. There is no need to fear. God’s love is not given because we’ve been good. His love is given so that His goodness will permeate every dimension of who we are. There is no fear in Love. His perfect Love casts out fear. You are already forgiven in Christ Jesus. That’s why your life can be changed, transformed and healed. Trust His grace!



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

 HEBREWS 10:1-2, 10-18 "The sacrifices under that system ( the Old Covenant) were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.   If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.   For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.  Under the Old Covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.   But our High Priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.   There He waits until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet.   For by that one offering He forever m...
 James 1:5-8 " If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.   But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.   Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.   Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." We must remember that God is never upset that we don't know or understand how to live out the New Life He has given to us. That Life is now being lived out in us by the Holy Spirit. This Life of the Kingdom is radically different that the life we are accustomed to living in concert with the world. One of the main marks of a true follower of Jesus Christ is that there is change and ongoing change in us by the Holy Spirit. We do not remain as we once were. The Holy Spirit is conforming us to the Image o...
  OUT IN THE OPEN God has not hidden what He has done to redeem humanity. He offers us the only way of true repentance, faith, forgiveness of sin and a new life that is unending. Truth is, though, He never forces repentance, faith, forgiveness and a new life on anyone. He desires a relationship, not the programmed responses of humanoid AI. His love for us has exposed the utter ruin of humanity because of our rebellion and sin. He doesn’t want us to be deceived into thinking that at the end of our lives here on earth we will all get a “participation trophy”. We have all personalized and internalized our rebellion against God. Humanity’s rebellion against God can be shocking horror or the civilized folly or relying on our broken moral compass to bring ourselves back into a state of wholeness. We want to be the ground of truth. We want our emotions enshrined and worshipped by all. The root problem is that humanity is spiritually dead and separated from Life, Himself. Both pride and ho...