Wednesday May 24, 2006

The other night I was reading and relaxing and God asked me a question….”Brian, Who do you say that I am?” I couldn’t answer right away…..I knew that who I thought he was couldn’t be answered that quickly…mostly because I had never really given Him the proper focus to have an answer for it.

He is the Christ…but not the Christ that hangs on most Crucifixes. They are all too pretty and nice and neat. He is the Christ that is depicted in Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ. He was tortured to the nth degree. He was beaten beyond an inch of his life. The cruelty he endured  has never been equaled. And he did all of this for me. If I were the only one on earth…he would have done it…he loves me THAT much.

Now my question is this…..why do I forget this?? Why do I not constantly focus on this. It is too painful. When I see Him like that and think of the things I do on a daily basis, the “priorities” I set in my life, the shame and embarrassment I feel is too heavy for me. Which is exactly why He did it. When He sees me like this…He says…”Don’t worry about it….You are forgiven….I LOVE YOU!” Now focus on my love…enjoy it…soak in it….this is why I did what I did.

He doesn’t look and say…

oh wait…you were baptized as a baby by sprinkling…sorry come back when you’ve been dunked….

Oh wait…you don’t speak in toungues….come back when you do…..

Oh wait…you haven’t tithed in year? Come back when you are at 10%

Oh wait…IS that alcohol and tobacco on your breathe…come back when you are sober….

Oh wait…I saw you with that guy last night….come back when you enjoy women like I created you….

He says…..”Come just as you are, and I will give you rest!”