THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, August 5, 2024

Lord, where did people get the idea you are an angry God, ready to pour your wrath upon anyone who dares break one of the religious rules? As a child, you knew I feared you as someone with a big hammer ready to smack me over the head because I was such a stinker of a kid. One bad move or one bad choice opened the trap door to the fires below. I could have been the poster child for the kids misbehaving in church and taken out of church for a spanking.

Yes, you have wrath, but your wrath has already been poured out on Jesus when he went to the cross. Lord God, you have already punished sin when you laid it all on Jesus. Don’t you desire everyone to know this truth? You are not mad at people. You’re not mad at me or others every time we fail you. Although many believe through self-discipline, it is possible to live without flaws in this broken world, that is nonsense. It’s delusional.

Lord, as Christ followers, you’ve given us the joy of telling others the good news of your forgiveness and grace. Hopefully, how we conduct ourselves with others should tell we are your followers. Some may not understand how, but our redemption should create in us a new life that is noticeable to those in our world. How we would love to hear repeatedly, “What happened to you? You’re not the same.”

Today, may your Spirit of gentleness, love and kindness in all who follow you show folks that you are not mad at them.

So be it, Jesus. Amen.