Tag: jesus died for all

How Can it Be?

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I feel compelled to compare the stories of Mary, an unwed virgin girl, without the past she knew necessary to conceive with the woman at the well who had a past she felt was unredeemable. Both found favor with God. Both were amazed at what God saw in them and trusted them with. Both left wondering “How can it be”? He blessed them both with His presence in a way that no other man could.

When Mary was visited by the angel and told that she would conceive the Son of God, her response was “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” (Luke 1:34 NLT) He picked her because it was inconceivable any other way. She knew the questions that would come. She knew this was impossible any other way, and still, she conceded with “May everything you’ve told me come true”. Basically, Your will be done.

When Jesus visited the woman at the well, He came with truth, grace, and salvation. Even in her shame. Even with her past of being with “too many men” and looked down upon by the people around her, He found favor in her and wanted her to know it.

Even His disciples were confused that He engaged with her.  Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” (John 4:27 NLT) Yet, He did. And He left her elated and excited that He knew her story…all of it.

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” (John 4:25-26 NLT) Black and white, face to face, He shared with her. A woman with a past and currently living with a man who was not her husband. This is the Grace and Truth that changes us.

The Bible doesn’t say, but I bet she went home and changed. I bet she reflected on who she had encountered that day and was inspired to “Go and to sin no more”. Not because she was condemned by Him, but because she was convicted by Who He was and who she was to Him. That’s true conviction. I bet she changed because of His mercy and strength.

Mary’s physical body and story changed because she found favor with the Lord. The woman at the well’s heart and life changed because Jesus shared His truth alongside hers. Not to shame, but to prove that we know we can’t be completely loved without being fully known.

Whether you are a person without the past you think necessary to be used by God (like Mary) or a person with the past that you think has ruined your life, Jesus sees, knows, and loves you to the cross and to change. With or without your past, not only can it be, but it is done.

Amen!

Bathsheba’s Husband..?

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When we consider people treated “unfairly” in the Bible, a few come to mind. We have Joseph thrown in the pit by his jealous brothers, the fiery furnace story, the lion’s den, and of course, Job. All these men were pushed into unimaginable circumstances and places.

When we even attempt to put ourselves in their shoes (or sandals), we catch a glimpse of how dire their situations were. How they wondered if and how they’d be saved. Each one had faith to finally say…”Even if, Lord. I’m with you.” The faith that inspires us and moves God. The faith The Lord wants us to have.

In each of these stories, the people did survive though. Miraculously, of course. God allowed them to see another day. And He got all the Glory for their stories. Exactly as He should. Praise Him!

The Bible says Job was even more blessed in his latter years than his previous ones. The ones taken from him because of a spiritual bet between God and Satan that he never even knew about. Was that fair? God allowed it and trusted Job. Even though and even if. And, he was rewarded on earth as he will be in heaven.

But, what about Bathsheba’s husband? I have so much compassion for this man. You’ve heard the phrase “Sometimes we are just the collateral damage in someone else’s war against themselves.” Talk about some collateral damage for this guy!

Now, we don’t know if there was a wager made in heaven about him. We only know there was for Job because it was written about. We know he couldn’t have been perfect, because he was human. But, all we are told about him is that he was faithful. Faithful to his king and his wife. And still….gets murdered. Not just by some “bad guy”, but by the guy we know as “The man after God’s own heart.” Man, does that feel unfair.

We know David repented for cheating with his wife and murdering him. After the fact. David’s heart broke into a million pieces for what he did. David’s family had issues because of it and he lived with his own consequences. But, when I think of how unfair life can be to some. Some who don’t deserve it, my mind goes back to Bathsheba’s husband and I am once again reassured that His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8) That some reap rewards and survive miraculously on earth, but that for others their reward will be in heaven (Matthew 5:12).

Bathsheba’s husband didn’t live to work through the battle of forgiveness to the king he so faithfully served and was betrayed by. That would have been a different story. Instead, he was killed on purpose by the man he was fighting for and also got his wife pregnant.

To be cheated on and murdered seems bad enough, right? But, to be cheated on and killed by the man known as the man after God’s own heart? What a story. Talk about collateral damage.

We love King David and feel sorry for Bathsheba’s husband. And, I can’t wait to hug them both in heaven. Doesn’t that seem like a very strange meeting for the two men after their story? With nothing but forgiveness and understanding in their hearts for each other. A story only God could orchestrate and redeem. But, He does and He will.

I don’t share this to add questions to God’s motives, but to remind us that we will never understand it all this side of heaven. We aren’t meant to. When innocent children get hurt or killed. When bad things happen to good people. When corruption is elected and runs rampant. When we just don’t understand…

We are humble humans living God’s story, whatever that is. He uses us in spite of ourselves, our sins, our struggles, and our tragedies. Somehow, in His sovereignty and love, He alone will make it perfect.

Human to Human

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If we want others to allow for our humanness, we need to allow others theirs as well.

We need to let people in on the bad and the good. If you have a problem sharing either of these with someone, pay attention to that. It’s God warning and directing you. To the ones you can share the good and the bad, give extra thanks.

We should still love the ones we can’t with, but God gives us certain ones to share both with on a deep level. The deep hards and the really high goods. He gives those who will genuinely feel with you and for you. These are some of your biggest gifts.

If someone won’t admit their humanness with me, I’m no longer comfortable sharing mine. I’ll just take it to God, because I know He gets it. It takes humility to share the bad and courage to share the good. Some only want to hear the bad stuff for juice to share with others and some can’t handle the good because it might make you look better than they are comfortable with to others.

Because we can go through many people in our lives before these people surface, feelings get hurt. If someone was this to you in the past, they were a gift then. Their time has just lapsed. And, that can hurt when we thought it never would. Wish them love, peace, and all things good.

Head up, soldier. Look around. Check your phone. Who is there for you? Who can you celebrate wins with AND share your struggles? I pray it’s someone on this fallen earth too. We need earthly lovers and defenders too.

Yes, God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. But, our Father gives good gifts and He provides. Even before we know we need it. Think of Zacchaeus and the tree he climbed just to get a glimpse of Jesus. That tree was planted long before he needed it.

Do we get frustrated with our kids’ humanness? Are we parents also humans? Do we want grace for our humanity? Remember this as we are all humans living in a messed up world.

God is bigger. He sent His Son (God in the flesh) to die for us. For humans. He became one just to do so. He felt thirst, sadness, hunger, grief, separation…None of which He had to. But still, He came from heaven to live as a human so that we could join Him in heaven for eternity. That’s how much He loves and understands ALL of us humans.