Unstoppable GodSample

Like the thief upon the cross, I'm as guilty as can be. Like the woman at the well, I’ve got shame that runs so deep. How unexpectedly, My God, You welcome me!

She was guilty.

It is so easy to forget.

I'll say it again, She was guilty.

The woman they brought to Jesus was guilty. She had been caught red-handed, no “he said, she said,” no evidence to the contrary. She was simply guilty. So when they threw her at Jesus’ feet, she had every right to expect Justice, since Jesus was Just. 

The Samaritan woman was guilty as well. Having had five husbands, she was a social pariah. She was guilty, she was worthless. She would not have expected Jesus to speak with her because Jesus was Holy. Too Holy for a sinner.

He was guilty, hanging on a cross next to Jesus because he was a thief. He broke the law so severely that his punishment was crucifixion. The judgement had already been pronounced. He would never have expected Jesus to understand his imperfection, since Jesus was perfect.

But our failures have never separated us from God’s love - He loves us even in our brokenness.

Only Jesus could have judged the woman caught in adultery, only Jesus had no sin, only Jesus was just enough. Yet only Jesus knew her whole story, only Jesus knew her as a child, watched her grow, loved her just the way He made her. So He showed mercy, because He was merciful. 

Jesus saw a person: not a Samaritan, not a sinner, but a person of worth and value. A person who needed to know who He was and how much He could change her life. He could have ignored her, could have been concerned with what people would have thought; but they didn’t know her past, her pain, her weaknesses. So He changed her life by showing her the love she had never felt, because Jesus was compassionate.

Jesus invited a thief into His kingdom. A kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. A criminal, a guilty man. 

Only Jesus can fully understand each individual, only Jesus knows us intimately, why we do the things we do. He loves us at our worst, just the way we are. 

He calls you to health and life, He hasn’t stopped loving you. He loves you right now. The way you are right now, but He wants you to be healthy, happy, content in His love.

Today, may the knowledge that He loves you as you are help you understand that He sees you for who you can be. 

Embrace His love, and watch it change your life.