[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 12/September/2021]
Back in February, I wrote this in my (ever-so-faithfully-kept!) journal:
“Jesus, please rid me of a default setting of shame and guilt. I want, need, to get up each morning and go to bed at night knowing that I am your son and that you are proud of me!” It’s forgetting THAT that leaves me feeling lonely, OUTSIDE! The Bible references were Hebrews 8:12 and 10:17; and Ezekiel 36:25-28.
Spinning around in my head for a few days has been Yahweh’s challenge to Isaiah in 1:18. God has just been listing in painful detail how his people have disappointed him. Now he asks Isaiah to stand before him, as in a courtroom, and attempt some kind of defence! ‘Come and reason with me, present your case!‘ Knowing there is no excuse, God himself says, ‘Though your sins are blood-red, they’ll be snow-white‘. HE WILL DO IT, NOT ME!
It’s my insistence that I must do better that’s the real problem! I AM ALREADY HIS SON. HE ALREADY HAS PUT MY FAILINGS BEHIND HIM ‘AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST‘! (Psalm 103:12)
When will I learn to relax? Am I alone?
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Contributed by Dennis Ginter; © the Author
