THANKFUL

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Lord, for years I was afraid of You. I pictured You standing in the on-deck circle, taking practice swings with a big club, just waiting to smack me on the head every time I screwed up. Perhaps this wrong image of You came from the fire-and-brimstone sermons I heard every Sunday morning, Sunday nights, and Wednesday evenings. This religious upbringing caused me to misunderstand who You are. Religious teachings of that time emphasized that strict adherence to religious rules was the only ticket to heaven. Talk about pressure. Break one rule and better get use to extreme heat. Although we sang “Amazing Grace” at every funeral, growing up, I seldom heard grace mentioned in sermons. Everything about You terrified me.

But for years You were trying to tell me You were not mad at me—You loved me. You wanted to be my personal God through Jesus. Once I understood who Jesus really is, and how He took my sins on the cross, Matthew 11:29-30 had a new meaning: “. . . My yoke is easy, and My burden light.” You know my deepest secrets, every unholy thought, every bias, yet You want me to hang out with You anyway. Once I understood Your grace, salvation became clear in Your Word: “What must we do to perform the works of God. Jesus replied, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One [Jesus] He sent.’” Having a loving personal relationship with You wasn’t far-fetched at all.

So thankful to be yoked to You Jesus instead of religion. Amen.