More Reminders

Sunday service was chock full of goodies.  Little gems that set my mind racing through Scripture, recalling the encouragement found in our Father's Word. 

We started out with Jesus calling His disciples.  An unlikely group of men destined to (through the power of the Holy Spirit) change the world.  We see Jesus with a ragtag group, hanging out with fisherman, tax collectors and other sinners, everyday folk, those many would avoid.  And yet He searched for them, sought them, loved them.  Jesus Himself said it best in Luke 19:10.  For  the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.  

Not one of these people deserved Jesus' attention or calling.  Not one of us does either.  And that's where my mind went through this sermon on Sunday.  I was neither worthy not desirable, yet the Lord sought me, called me, and claimed me.  This never ceases to blow me away.  Wretched, sinful, stubborn me, and yet He calls me His own.  Ephesians 1:4-5...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...Down through the millennia, at the beginning of time God looked forward to the day we were born, the day He would save us.  At the start of creation, through the Cross (Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.), He saw us, called us, saved us and loved us.

Those days when we feel like such failures,  Those days when everything we do is wrong and we seem to walk so out of sync with our Lord.  Our temper flares at the littlest slight, our words sting and condemn, our faith nowhere to be found....those are the days we must remember who we are.  The days when we feel like anything but a child of God.  We remember and we come back to Him and we begin again. 

Lord, thank You that perfection is not necessary for You love to remain.  We desire to live according to Your will, but many times fall so short.  Thank You that You never change Your mind about us.  You chose us before the world began and You don't make mistakes.  Remind us of this often.  Thank You for this truth.  Let us continue to walk in it.  We know it's not an excuse for bad behavior, but an encouragement to come to Your arms when we fail, when we need help.  It's a reminder of our belonging and of Your unfailing, unending love.  It's a glimpse of Your heart and the power that is there to love even when we are unlovable.  And Lord, help us to give those around us the same compassion, the same mercy.  In Jesus' loving Name.  Amen. 

Remember.