Grace – I AM. BELOVED

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:12-14

Have you ever felt stuck in your past? Or maybe there are things you want to do, things you know you should do, but somehow, you are unable to go forward. Have you ever been unable to forgive, whether it be yourself or someone else, and it paralyzes you in some way? Or maybe you have a dream that you have left behind, forgotten. We have all heard the excuses.

I’m too old. I missed my chance. They won’t believe me. I can’t do anything right. I am not qualified. I won’t make it. They won’t listen. Good things don’t come my way.

Maybe you are guilty of this yourself. Maybe you love someone who keeps tripping over the past, and you just know God has more for them.

But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isa 43:18-19

Interestingly, many of us find ourselves wandering in the wilderness. We feel just like this…a dry wasteland. Washed up. Done. But what happens to a seed in dry soil when you water it? New life! God says He will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Oftentimes, we are simply the seed in dry soil that needs watered. We were never meant to sit dormant in the soil.

I am thankful Paul did not stumble over his past. He not only had to deal with the thoughts in his own head, but he was surrounded by doubters who could only look at the man they used to know. They were looking at him with their past vision.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Tim 1:16

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 2 Tim 4:16

Paul called himself the “worst of sinners.” He persecuted Christians. He was prideful. And when the Lord met him on the road that day, everything changed. He received mercy. He recognized God had patience in him. And even in his abandonment, even when faced with doubters, even when he himself was persecuted and thrown in jail and beaten, he went forward into an incredible 35-year ministry building churches, encouraging believers, and writing a large part of the New Testament. He never once looked back.

The remembering of the past should only be for the glory of God and for our spiritual benefit.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

Jesus told us this is a daily deal. We take up our cross daily because each day brings new challenges, new circumstances. The word “new” here is kainos (Kai NOS’) new in quality, fresh in development – not found exactly like this before. It is superior to what it succeeds.

You cannot look back at what you did (or left undone) in the past through the eyes of who you are now. You have gained experience, wisdom and knowledge along the way. The decisions you made then cannot be seen properly through your eyes now. You would not have been capable of making the decision then as you see it now. Leave the thing in the past where it belongs. It has become a story, a season, a memory. But it is not a reflection of who you are now. Today is kainos – not found exactly like this before.

Sometimes we need to go through the valley before we can appreciate the mountaintop. Only when we have done this can we look down and enjoy the beauty of the valley. Consider that thing you did or that situation you went through might be the springboard for the very thing you are going to do now.

Let’s look at Peter. When things got scary, he denied knowing Christ, even after Jesus told him he would, and he looked at Him and said there was no way He could ever do that. He would die for Him! Later, Jesus meets him on the shore and tells Peter, “Feed my sheep.” I can only imagine the shame Peter felt as he looked upon Jesus, knowing that Jesus knew what he had done. Yet Jesus demonstrated pure love. Peter accepted the beautiful gift of grace. This unschooled man (he did not let that stop him either) spoke with boldness to crowds of thousands and brought them the Good News. He performed many miracles and God used him to reveal to the world that Christ died for all.

Elijah ran, Jonah hid, David feared, Thomas doubted, Peter denied, Paul persecuted. But they all chose not to stay in that place of stumbling. They put their hope in God and moved forward, sometimes doing it afraid, but still going forward.

Friends, let’s not miss it. He has good things for you.

Grace & Peace,

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11

“Just love them anyway. I’ll sort ’em out later. God.”

When I read stories in the Bible, I find myself completely immersed, soaking in the atmosphere and experiencing the emotions. We all want to believe that somehow, we would have reacted with grace or better judgement, but really, how well would we have been able to control our own human response? Would we stand out or fall in line with the crowd?

“Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.”

I imagine the damp morning air as the woman was standing there in utter despair, gasping for breath as fear grips her chest and she gazes at her accusers, legs feeling weak. I imagined the loneliness and betrayal she must have experienced as she stood alone.

“In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.”

I can sense the dead silence in the heavy air as everyone around Him waits in anticipation. Actually, these men were not even interested in what happened to the woman. I can hear her heart pounding as she looks at Jesus in desperation, eyes crying out for mercy.

“When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.”

I imagine the look of bewilderment on her face as the woman realized the gift of mercy that had been granted to her. Still frozen in terror, she was perhaps unsure how to process what was happening. I have witnessed this response in people. It is almost disbelief. Could this be real? The world does not love this way. I imagine the stunned faces of the men, who even then did not understand love, but were more concerned about self-preservation.

“When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.”

Have you ever experienced a moment like this when in an instant, every muscle in your body relaxes, you exhale, and you realize it’s over; it is going to be OK? Can you see her face – the tears flowing – as she gazes upon Jesus with relief, awe, amazement?

“Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”“No one, Lord,” she answered.“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

And there it is. LOVE. Self-less, beautiful, real. The woman, in her darkest moment, received the most perfect gift we can give. Pure, merciful love. I can only imagine the shock mixed with joy as the woman looked into the eyes of Love Himself. Incredible.

We are surrounded today by people similar to the individuals in this story. There are some who are puffed up with entitlement, self-righteousness, and apathy. Some are plagued with complacency. It is difficult to discern true love or what it even means when Jesus says we are to love one another. The word love itself has become so distorted. And the act of love is treated as a commodity, withheld when someone does not agree with our agenda or we do not live up to their standards. We shut ourselves off from others out of entitlement, inconsiderate of the consequences.

But in this story, Jesus gives us a perfect example of what it means to love one another. I remember praying one day and asking God to give me the ability to see others the way He sees them. I wanted to look past their mistakes, their denomination, their political views or their family history. Regardless of what we see on the outside, regardless of what one will admit, we all need the same thing this woman needed. We need love and we need to be heard. We are created in His image. And He is love personified. And therefore, so are we.

Do everything in love. 1 Cor 16:14

It was as if the scales had fallen from my eyes. When I began to connect with people in a real way, I saw change. When I spoke to them because they mattered, I saw light in their eyes. Our world suffers from an epidemic of self. In this world of “me first” we have forgotten how to love one another, empathize with our fellow human, and forgive. In a dream one night, I clearly heard God say, “Love them anyway.” Love them despite it all. The moment was so intense I was changed. They need it. And when I began loving them anyway, I felt a shift in my own heart. Joy overcame despair. Peace overcame fear. Purpose overcame regret.

I know this is hard. After all, people have hurt us. I tell people, don’t do it for them, do it for YOU. And as you do it for you, and YOU get free, others will see the change in you. Your joy becomes contagious. And one by one, in our own little corner of the world, we can invite change for the better. Jesus did it. He still does it today. And so should we. ♥♥♥

Passages taken from John 8: 1-11

Tag: Grace

Stop tripping over the past.

Love them anyway.