The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Jeremiah 31:3-4 (NIV)
God alone is perfectly pure, holy and righteous. Humanity is all flawed and broken at best. God tells us there is no one righteous not even one. That is why we so desperately need a Savior and why He so lovingly sent His Son to save us. Amazingly, when God looks down at believers in sweet Jesus, He sees not their sins rather the righteousness of Christ.
He is a faithful God Who does no wrong, upright and just is He. He could not let our sins go unpunished - unpaid for - and so He paid for them Himself – through the blood of His Son - so that we might be able to once again have communion with Him. That, my friends, is the highest form of selfless love. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
It is so easy to point to others and blame them for the way we are – for our sinful bents and doings - instead of owning our sins ourselves. And it is ever so tempting to fault others for all of our big issues as well as our little picadilloes. But God does not want us to live in the land of pointing fingers and carrying hurt and disappointment within. The blame game gets us nowhere fast and leads us to a wasted life filled with resentment and anger towards others.
Instead of looking at others to cast blame, God invites us to look to Him for healing and love. His love is deep, unwavering, constant and never ending. It woos, soothes and comforts our brokenness as we rest secure in Him with our heads resting between His all-powerful shoulders as Moses writes in Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV).
We are to redirect our focus on all the goodness found in God. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and perfecter of our faith. He alone is perfect righteousness. Slow to anger and abounding in love. Hear the Heart Healer wooing “Come to me”. He will give you rest. Live like you are loved – because you are - deeply and abundantly.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)