Repent and believe the good news
I must repent a hundred times a day.
Theres a paradox in that the biggest battle we face is to overcome ourselves. Not then to be our own master but to be a master of our submission.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever win this battle completely, the impatience, running into the wall of my generosity, circling the inner boundaries of my charity. Always I’m found just short of the horizon I’ve aimed for.
That’s the good news… and I believe it
What amazing news I can repent a hundred times, no a thousand times a day and that Mercy is still just waiting for me to ask for it.
A thousand times a day I say “Jesus…about this” and He replies
Do you love me ?
That sinking feeling rises, here we go, this time He must be as tired of my falling as I am. That His tolerance is as limited as mine. This time has to be the condemnation.
The biggest temptation we face is to believe that He is a reflection of us, not that this is a striving to be a reflection of Him.
But he doesn’t condemn.
He just asks again “Do you love me ?”
Yes, Lord you know I love you.
“Then spend time with me, be for me.”
Jesus doesn’t ask why did you deny me ?
He doesn’t ask why when you have walked with me, been chosen by me, been loved by me, been dragged out of your darkness by me do you still turn away from me?
He asks me, he asks you “Do you love me ?
You get to choose Him. Again.
He says
“Do you love me?
I know what is in your heart I know all the things you long for. I just need you to want them from me”
So again He is asking do you love me ?
Do you want to know love ?
The kingdom is close at hand, it’s as near as that heartfelt confession, as present in the moment you glance heavenward seeking Him, as near as His name on your lips in praise.
Believe it my friend, this is indeed Good news. I pray you hear it a thousand times today.