The central glory of our faith is that we have a Savior. We are loaded down with sins, shortcomings, failures, bad habits of mind and heart, and an assortment of all kinds of baggage that make us miserable. We are the kind of people who need a Savior, so Christianity is the religion for us. God saves (rescues, delivers) us and makes us into new people.
I love it when my husband mentions from the pulpit that God doesn’t care about our sins. He has forgiven them and He doesn’t care about them any more. He wants us to come to Him and enjoy His presence, leaving our baggage at the door. Forgiveness means that God has cleared the record, He has received us and washed us. He is not interested in remembering how dirty the bathwater was. We are put right, set on our feet, squeaky clean, and allowed to enjoy Him now.
So, it doesn’t much matter what your issues are. Are they sinful issues? Then get in the tub and get washed. No arguing about how weird the dirt is or where it came from or why you got this way in the first place. Spending time analyzing the dirt is a distraction away from the hot, soapy water.
Mankind tripped and fell in Adam, and it was a long fall into all kinds of troubles. Only a kind Savior can haul us out. So look away from yourself, look away from the sin and trouble, and look to Christ. He is the only One who can save, and He saves us to the uttermost.
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Thank you, Mrs. Wilson!
“rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.”
“Spending time analyzing the dirt is a distraction away from the hot, soapy water.”
Okay, I’m going in!
Thank you for being willing to say what needs to be said.
“So look away from yourself, look away from the sin and trouble, and look to Christ. He is the only One who can save, and He saves us to the uttermost.”
I love this, I need this.
This was fabulous – thank you for this reminder today.
It’s a good thing getting clean is so refreshing…I find it necessary a couple times a day! 😉 Thanks for the encouragement!
We spend so much time thinking that salvation has something to do with us. That our sin is too dirty, that we have to do better, that there is something we need to do to prepare ourselves to accept salvation. Isn’t it so great that everything is already DONE for us? What a great reminder. Thanks.
This is the grace I can’t get over. I need it, I love it, I want to be full of it. Thank you for being such a sweet sister, to remind me and other ladies of the real grace we live in. This true and real love gives me such lightness from my load and freedom form it, to actually enjoy my God and all He has bestowed upon me and mine. 🙂 Thanks!
“The central glory of our faith is that we have a Savior.” Jesus, Jesus, how we love Thee! And how true it is that “he who has been forgiven much, loves much!” Luke 7:47 Thus the dirtier the bath water the stronger the current of love from a forgiven heart to the blessed Redeemer!
I remember the moment, as a new Christian, when I truly understood that Christ was more powerful than ANY of my sins, present or persistent. I just sat at the stoplight bawling my eyes out. And I love to remember that moment with fresh tears when I stumble.
Your phrasing, Nancy, is beautiful. We love to forgive our children in this way — “Hey, I love you! All’s forgiven!” followed by kisses and a comment about what we’re doing next. Why is it so hard to think of our Heavenly Father forgiving us with as much joy and rectitude?