We recently had some young people over & one of the gals said, “I’d love to hear your story because I’ve heard it’s pretty incredible.”
I suddenly found my eyes leaking as I replied, “Well, I’m not sure I’d call it incredible. There’re many dark places, some parts published & others, as of today, are not. But, yes, I’d love to share the great incredibleness of God with you!”
I looked to the floor, a bit embarrassed by the tears & wondering the why behind them when a well of emotion rose & I blurted,
”I’m just so grateful for the forgiveness God has given for all the things I’ve done. I can’t imagine life apart from Him! The only thing I deserve is hell & yet He saw fit to buy my sin-riddled life with His…I think it’s what motivates me to write each day, to remind people of the great love they’re missing when they do life apart from The One Who loves them even when their lives look like a pigpen!”
Those may not have been my exact words, but I’m sure you get the picture 😉 When I finally I looked up, I was surprised to see a tear on her cheek too.
Bearing witness to God’s goodness & grace, whether 1st person or as an onlooker in someone’s life, has that kind of effect. It’s disarming, endearing & encouraging!
That’s how I felt when I read Psalm 130. The writer confesses,
“Lord, if you kept a record of our sin, who could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.”
He knows the depth of debt that’s been paid & likens his longing for the Lord to a sentry longing for the dawn.
A sentry stands watch through the wee hours of the night, so imagine how they must long for the first light of day when they can end their post & rest!
And so it is with us…when we catch a glimpse of the undeserved love of the Lord, something inside lets go. We no longer need to strive for worth or stand guard over our lives! When He becomes Lord, our hope is uprooted from earthly things & firmly planted in The Eternal One whose love is unfailing!
Oh, Lord, be just that! LORD over our all! You promise to redeem us from every kind of sin! Remind us of the great gift of your forgiveness! We can’t earn it & definitely don’t deserve it. When we Hope in You alone, You take the messiness we’ve created & make something incredible!
1 KINGS 9:1-10:29
ACTS 8:14-40
PSALM 130:1-8
PROVERBS 17:2-3
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