We can’t afford to forget: everything that is broken has come into that condition through the Fall.
Tag: redemption
When we remember what comes next, when we take the time to consider the depth of joy and wonder that weighs enough to tip the scale on cancer and school shootings, dialysis and depression, on corrupt politicians, fraudulent court proceedings, record inflation and all the other ugly things fallen man has made prominent — well, it lightens the load for today by some measure.
Friend, we live in a fallen world with fallen people. Seed will be spilled. Dreams will shatter. We will hurt. But in that hurt we always, always have a choice.
Shame is the apparel of the enemy – it’s how he identifies his own. It’s part of his indoctrination. Hitler issued brownshirts and Satan issues shame. And shedding the enemy’s attire takes effort; it takes time and it requires the power of God in our frame.
My relationship with my spouse is a living entity: subject to change, entropy, disease and death. It will never be perfect because it is a covenant between two fallen people still learning to cooperate with the sanctification process. Maintaining a healthy marriage will always require work: attention, intention and prayer. Even with proper care and feeding, marriage is still often tarnished and fraught with extenuating circumstances – the clouds and inclusions of a life lived together.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV) Right now I am thinking about how God meets me each and every morning with fresh mercy and…
“So Judas threw the money into the Temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:5 NIV) Every time I read of Judas, my heart hurts for him. In the hot flush of shame and regret, Judas took his own life. He…
“I loathe my very life, therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.” (Job 10:1 NIV) Job was hurting. More than just sad, by today’s terms, he was near-suicidal. He had already stated: it would…
Jesus sets us free from the heavy burden of our own righteousness. His love and goodness allows us to set down the basket of effort: of doing it in our own strength. With hands finally free of this impossible burden, we instead can lift them in praise. We can finally, fully walk in worship.