Romans 6:23
“ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
I sobbed as I stood in the sanctuary all those years ago.“He loves us, oh how He loves us, Oh how He loves us, Oh how He loves.” I kept hearing the singers sing. Each “He loves us” would hit me like a wave. I had never heard this song before, but the “He loves” kept persisting, as if they were trying to convince me. “Could it be?” I thought through my tears. “Could He just love me? Could it be that simple? I’m sure there are 10 different ways that I’m not measuring up right now, and yet, I’m being presented with …. Love?”
You see, this was one of my first times in this church and I had just come out of a very legalistic religion. This had not been all bad, but it had led me to see God as distant. A God who was looking at me through a magnifying glass, waiting for me to mess up. A God whom I had to appease.
Yet here He was, inviting me to love. This was the beginning of my healing in my view of Him.
It makes sense to our human nature, doesn’t it? Almighty God is Holy and perfect. And we are….not. We would be distant, we would be disgusted. So we put that on God, assuming he should be like that with us. A bunch of Pharisees and scribes felt that way too. They came to Jesus in Luke 15 and accused Him of hanging out with all the sinners. This Jesus, who was on earth to show us the Father’s heart, answered with a story. He told them how there was a father with two sons. One of the sons wanted only his money and ran away to make terrible choices. But when he had ruined his life, he wanted to come back as a servant, cause he knew that was the only way he deserved to come back. Yet when the father saw him coming, he ran. He ran to his son and loved him! He made a feast and lavished him with everything he had. In this story, He was showing us how he sees us. He’s so ready to receive us when we mess it all up. He sees us as sons and daughters and wants to restore us to that original intent as he bathes us in His forgiveness.
Jesus on the cross took on the dirty, the wicked, the ugly. He saw our state and signed his life away for it. It is paid for, it is finished, it is done. When we said yes to His gift, He took all the sin. They can condemn us or accuse us if they want, but our reality is, we are justified. It says in Colossians 1:21-22: “And you who were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” When he sees us, he sees us clean. He’s not a “tit for tat” God, He’s a “grace abounds more where sin abounds” God.
What drove Jesus to do all this for us? Love.
Love himself was not ok with being separated from us. He brought us near by His blood. This Lord, who is surrounded by heavenly beings who shout “Holy” all day long, invites us to come to His throne of grace to be with Him. This God chooses to dwell inside us. That’s the kind of nearness He wants. We can live like this! We can put this forgiveness on and start where He finished, free from guilt and condemnation, and walking in His love in intimate relationship with Him.
Listening Prayer: Take some time to be with your Heavenly Father. Bask in this forgiveness, enjoy this love. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need help embracing the love God has for you. Receive how he sees you in His word.
As you receive the Father’s love, ask the Holy Spirit if there is anyone he wants you to pray for who needs a similar embrace from the Father.
Prayer: Father, we thank you. Thank you for giving all, for sparing no expense to save us. Thank you for forgiving and forgetting all our sins. Help us see ourselves the way you see us. Help us as we pursue deeper intimacy with you and walk as forgiven and free sons and daughters. Help us to fully receive the love you have for us. We ask that those who have seen you as distant or experience hurt from the church would find restoration in their relationship with you and experience your extravagant love. Help us to remember to intercede for them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Resources: Bible verses on God’s forgiveness for us:
Romans 5: 8-9
But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Roman 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:33-34
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Worship Song: