[vc_row height=”small” el_class=”dailyBody” css=”.vc_custom_1465516518912{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][us_separator height=”30px” size=”custom”][us_image image=”33034″ size=”tnail-1×1″][ultimate_heading main_heading_color=”#5fc8d7″ sub_heading_color=”#5fc8d7″ alignment=”left” main_heading_font_family=”font_family:Allerta|font_call:Allerta” main_heading_style=”font-style:italic;” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:16px;” sub_heading_style=”font-style:italic;,font-weight:bold;” sub_heading_font_size=”desktop:16px;” main_heading_line_height=”desktop:15px;” sub_heading_line_height=”desktop:22px;”]

[/ultimate_heading][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][us_sharing providers=”email,facebook,twitter,gplus”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

-Romans 5:6-8

As Jesus tells in the story of the prodigal son, the father sees the returning son from far away and he runs to him. Packed in the image of the father running is an idea we mustn’t miss if we are to understand what God is up to in our lives. In that culture, it would’ve been very dishonorable for an older man to run like the father did. To add insult to injury, he ran to a culturally dishonorable and shameful son. The father was shaming himself with each hurried step. By the time he arrives in front of his son, his perspiration and honor both stink a little bit. He meets his shame- filled son by condescending down into his shame.

The story Jesus tells pales in comparison to what God does towards shameful humanity, towards shameful you and I. Theologians call it incarnation. When God became a man in the birth of Jesus, he did so before our repentance speech. Romans 5 says it so beautifully, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus left glory to ender the world to save sinners before they even repented. He died a thief’s death to save his enemies. That is what God is like. God takes on our shame in order to meet us where we are. Elsewhere, Paul tells us that God made Jesus to be sin so that we might be made righteous.

If you think that God is up in heaven waiting for you to craft a perfect confession speech, you have missed the Gospel. God is not up in heaven waiting; he has already entered history through Jesus. He runs towards you. He takes on your shame and meets you in the midst of your mess in order to lighten your burden of shame. God is definitely not a germaphobe or maybe better put, he is NOT a sinaphobe. He is ready to meet you WHEREVER you are. Watch and listen to the video here and open your heart to the unmerited grace of your good Father. [/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Aaron Bjorklund  

[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″]

  • Subscribe to be notified when we publish
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

[/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]