No matter the dung clinging to your clothes, no matter the mistakes you are horribly and secretly ashamed of, let nothing stop you from running to your eternal Father. Run right up to him in your filthy glory and fall shamelessly at his feet for grace to help in your time of need. Notice it is grace we are offered--an unmerited favor or helping hand. It is not merited at all.
Lift up your chin, lift up your eyes with even a sparkle in them because you know something of the great love hiding in the heart of God himself for you. In your worst failures still come boldly, confidently, almost shamelessly into the very throne room of heaven because you have had a magnificent secret whispered in your ear. You, grubby street urchin that you are, are beloved by God, shamelessly loved by Him, so much so that He gave himself completely for you to save you from the very sins you need mercy for.
In fact, the way to God's displeasure is to shrink back, to skulk with modesty in the bushes with fig leaves trying to cover your shame. No. Let the fig leaves drop. Come marching in all your hairy sinfulness straight in to the Court and say: Look at the mess I've made again! And will not the Father smile such a smile as to light heaven and earth, and will He not take you straight to the bathtub and scrub every stain from His child again?
Perhaps to us our sad mistaken lives seem a never-ending series of mistakes. But to the eternal God, they are but a few days of crawling before we learn to stand and walk without stumbling with him forever.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
I too find it easy to acknowledge my sin and desperation, but so very hard to approach the throne room with confidence. I feel so unworthy, but I don't feel loved. I am not fully acknowledging God's mercy and love...something, as you said, which brings sadness to His heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement to pursue boldness.
Thanks for your comment. I love studying the life of King David. He was so fearless to admit his sins, express his feelings, and trust, really trust and lean on his God's goodness.
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