17th
Jackpot
What a miraculous reality… I am his and he is mine. This makes me hate all of the things that I have done that hurt him, insult him, that function to do the opposite of shining his light throughout the world. However, I can run through all of the hurt, suffering, and sin WITH joy in repentance… straight into his open arms.
We forget that this is what repentance should look like. Yes, we are humbled and broken over our sin. However, when our hearts are seared with the white hot reality of his amazing grace, we run in wonder and joy, leaping up into a mighty and eternal embrace. Think about all of the things/relationships that we long to be embraced by.
Growing in our relationship with him, knowing him, becoming more like him… those things are all eternal. Every other opinion will last only a short time. This puts things into perspective. Repentance becomes JOYFUL!
Why so joyful? Well, when he gives us the understanding to grasp the magnitude of his costly substitutionary sacrifice, the slot machine jackpot siren resounds in our heads. Then we realize that by no effort or victory of our own, we have won. Our victory is in his victory? Wow.
I’ve gone through times when it seems as if I am ravenously searching through the dumpster for things that will satisfy, affirm, justify and comfort when He is standing outside the door of the Ritz Carlton inviting me in to enjoy all of the free fabulousness that I want. Standing there saying, “Get out of there, run to me. Run not hanging your head in shame but with joyfulness b/c my arms are open and are longing to embrace you! Come!” Oh how we have grace amnesia.
C.S.L said… “You and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness.” When I relinquish control over my life, my desires, and my sin, he will work a mighty power over our hearts and minds and then we can see clearly that we have hit the jack pot. :)
