Disqualified but Qualified

It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
    The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” Isaiah 6:1-6 (NLT)

Can you imagine being Isaiah and standing before God in the throne room? Imagine the power and glory that radiated in that spot? Angels flying all over singing, praising and worshipping the Lord of Hosts? What an overwhelming site to behold.

It’s no wonder that Isaiah stood there and said “Woe is me.” (KJV) I can’t imagine taking in the glory of God and saying anything else. In the midst of this moment, somewhere in the recesses of his mind the thought occurred that here he was, a completely sinful human, standing before God – the Holy One. As he stood there and realized he was in the presence of Holiness, what else could he say? The contrast between his utter failure to God’s perfection....well, I would say “Woe is me” too.

And I do. We don’t see everything God is doing all around us. He is always at work and we miss most of it. But we do get to catch glimpses of Him every now and again. When I do, I, like Isaiah, verbalize a form of “Woe is me.” It comes out more like “I can’t do this. I am not qualified. This is too big for me. I don’t have the training.” I realize as I see Him move in His absolutely mind-blowing ways, that my insignificance, my sin, my attitudes are all disqualifiers.

But then I remember that there wasn’t one human being ever that was qualified to represent God. Not one.

As Isaiah processed his “unclean lips”, a seraphim flew over to the Alter, picked up a hot coal with a tong and placed it on his lips. He said “Your guilt is removed.” (NLT) God gave Isaiah a gift of forgiveness and healing.

We’ve been given that gift too. As Jesus hung on the cross He uttered the words “It is finished.” You are forgiven. Your sins have been removed. Same gift that was offered to Isaiah.

And like Isaiah, each of us is called. We all have a job to do in God’s Kingdom. He has something for every one of his kids to accomplish. When I am tempted to think “I can’t because...” I need to remember that because of Jesus, I can. I have been qualified. So have you.

And I will lean into my calling. Because I love Him. I will face my fears and inadequacies knowing that Jesus lives in me and because of His sacrifice, His power enables me. When life is over and I bow before His throne, I won’t be afraid any more. When I hear Him say “Well done”, I will know the journey was worth it.

A New Day

So also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28 (NLT)

A NEW SHEET,
He came to my desk with a quivering lip, the lesson was done.
“Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher?
I’ve spoiled this one.”
I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted
and gave him a new one all unspotted.
And into his tired heart I cried,
“Do better now, my child.”

A NEW DAY,
I went/came to the throne with a trembling heart;
the day was done.
“Have you a new day for me, dear Master?
I’ve spoiled this one.”
He took my day, all soiled and blotted
and gave me a new one all unspotted.
And into my tired heart he cried,
“Do better now, my child.”

Author anonymous, “A New Leaf,” James G. Lawson, compiler, The Best Loved Religious Poems (Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell, 1961).

Not One Thing

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38 (NLT)

There is a song by Matthew West called The God Who Stays. There is a line in it that really spoke to me recently. It says:

Somehow you don’t see me like I do.

WOW! Each of us sees ourselves negatively now and then. In reality, more than we should. We beat ourselves up for things we’ve done in the past, for sins we’ve committed recently and even for things we didn’t do but think we should have done. Thoughts pop into our heads about how we could do better or opportunities we’ve missed.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for healthy conviction from the Holy Spirit but the voices from Him, the thoughts in our heads would be just that, healthy.

When the thoughts that pop into your head are damning, when they make you feel like less, like you are not worthwhile and like you are a failure, those are not from the Holy Spirit. When you think you have no value and God cannot use you, those are not from the Holy Spirit. And especially when you think you have to get yourself all straightened out before you come to Jesus. Again, not from the Holy Spirit.

In today’s text we are told that NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, will get in the way of God loving us. Nothing thinkable or unthinkable. I have done some unthinkable things. Jesus still loves me. And if you’ve done unthinkable things too, Jesus still loves you.

As we head into the New Year, remember this truth. Hold on to it tightly. Fight for it.

You are loved. There is nothing, not one thing no matter how big or small that will cause Jesus not to love you. Lean in and be loved.

Denied!

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”

70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”

74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75 (NLT)

We often read this story, okay, at least I often read this story and think “How could he do that? How could he deny he knew Jesus in front of all of those people? Didn’t he have a relationship with him? Didn’t Peter remember all the experiences they had together - all that Jesus did for him and others?”

And then, I have to pause and realize I also have done this. When I have a decision to make and I choose the thing that does not demonstrate that I know Jesus. Or when I know I am being prompted to call someone, to reach out or to serve in a specific way and I choose instead to sit on my couch and watch TV. Maybe, it is when I snap at someone or say something that is not reflective of the Lord I know in my heart.

During all of those times, I am denying that I know Jesus. I am sure there are many moments during the day when I am shouting “Denied!” by my behavior or thoughts. And people see. They take note because after all, I call myself a disciple.

I am no different than Peter. In my world full of people watching, I make mistakes too. The only difference is someone isn’t writing it down and publishing it for all the world to see. Another thing that is the same in my life, in our lives, as in Peter’s, Jesus still forgives. He still says “Do you love me? Then come, feed my sheep. Take care of my kids. You have a job to do.” Praise God for that!

When Not If

But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 (NLT)

Jesus was on his journey to the cross where he would make a public forever statement about forgiveness. And in this conversation with Peter, Peter was so sure of himself. He stood there and spoke words about facing death for Jesus and being in it all the way. He didn't know his heart would betray him. But Jesus did.

Isn't it the same with us? We betray Jesus every time we choose a path other than the one that he wants for us. Every time we say "No, Lord. That's too hard." or "This is too uncomfortable." or "I want to do it my way." We may not say it exactly like that but, whenever we do what we want instead of what Jesus wants, we are acting like Peter. And like Peter, we may not know ourselves as well as we think we do, but Jesus knows us.

Why did Jesus make this statement to Peter? Wouldn't the cross have been enough of a You are forgiven statement for Peter and for us? Somehow, I don't think so. I think we would look at that and say "But I denied him. That doesn't apply to me." So Jesus made sure that Peter knew that after all was said and done, there was still a plan for him. He said "When you have repented and turned to me again." When not if. Jesus let him know that there was still a plan for his life. And when he said that to Peter, he said that to us.

I don't know about you but I find great comfort in this story. I have denied Jesus with my decisions and I have made some terrible mistakes in my life. But Jesus was praying for me.  He was saying "When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers." He is saying the same to you. 

No matter what you have done, no matter where you have been, grace is greater than all that. You are forgiven.

Changing Color

Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)

As I look out the window this morning, I see a beautiful landscape of white. White covering the grass and the roads and white decorating the tree branches to paint a picture of breath-taking beauty.

Yesterday, that same view was a mud-covered landscape from the rain and sleet that fell. What a difference a day makes. I can't help but think of God's statement to us that even though we are covered with sin and look dirty and unclean, in just a blink of an eye, we are made perfect.

In less time than you can imagine, you are sparkling white, clean with no traces of any imperfections. That's his promise. He is calling you to glisten. Go, talk to him and he will make you white as snow.

Now Is The Time

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1 (NLT)

Someone recently mentioned that they didn't know if God could use them because their past was full of "colorful" things. I've had this thought. How can God use someone who has made so many embarrassing mistakes? How can I represent a pure and Holy God when my past has been anything but.

We often forget that God's plan for our lives has nothing to do with our merit.  Let's face it, if it did he couldn't use any of us. It's about Jesus. Always about Jesus and the gift of grace we are given when we accept him as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus said, "It is finished." He didn't say "It will be finished when you get your act together." He knew we couldn't. He knew we were hopeless and helpless. Yet, he did what he did anyway.

Today's text says "So now there is no condemnation." Now. Not when you get it together. Not when you make up for your past. Not when you are sure some of the ugly won't show up again....NOW.

Let's accept this grace that we have been given. Let's believe in it and cherish it. And then, we should let it change us so we can share it with others.