This week’s post about God’s great gamble is something I have taped in the back of my Bible to remind me that God is not who I often think He is. And neither am I. It is by my friend John Lynch, pastor of Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix and a part of the TrueFaced team.
God’s Great New Testament Gamble
What if I tell them who they are? What if I take away any element of fear in condemnation, judgment, or rejection? What if I tell them I love them, will always love them? That I can’t love them more than I love them now, that I love them right now no matter what they’ve done, as much as I love my only Son. That there’s nothing they can do to make My love go away.
What if I told them there
are no lists? What if I told them they were righteous, with My righteousness, right now!? What if I told them they could stop beating themselves up? That they could stop being so formal, stiff, and jumpy around Me. What if I told them I was crazy about them? What if I told them even if they ran to the ends of the earth and did the most unthinkable, horrible things, killed Me and were unfaithful in their marriage, when they came back, I’d receive them with tears and a party? What if I told them I don’t keep a log of past offenses, of how little they pray, how often they’ve let Me down, made promises they don’t keep?
What if I told them they don’t have to be owned by men’s religious additions or traditions? What if I told them that if I am their Savior, they’re going to heaven no matter what – it’s a done deal? What if I told them they had a new nature, saints, not saved sinners who should now “buck-up and be better if they were any kind of Christians after all He’s done for you.” What if I told them that I actually live in them now? That I’ve put my love, power, and nature inside of them, at their disposal. What if I told them they didn’t’ have to put on a mask? That it was OK to be who they are at this moment, with all their junk and not pretend about how close we are, how much they pray or don’t, how much Bible they read or don’t. What if they knew they don’t have to look over their shoulder, for fear if things get too good – the other shoe’s gonna drop? What if they knew I will never, ever use the word punish in relation to them? What if they knew when they mess up, I never “get back at them”? What if they were convinced bad circumstances aren’t My way of evening the score for taking advantage of Me?
What if they knew the basis of our friendship wasn’t how little they sin, but on how much they let Me love them? What if they had permission to stop trying to impress Me in any way? What if I told them they could hurt My heart, but I’d try never to hurt theirs? What if I told them I like Eric Clapton’s music too? That the “Thee”s and “Thou”s have always bugged Me? What if I told them I never really liked the Christmas hand-bell deal with the white gloves? What if I told them they could open their eyes when they pray and still go to Heaven? What if I told them there was no secret agenda, no trap door? If I told them it wasn’t about their self-effort, but allowing Me to live My life through them?
Thanks Bill! I needed to read those words.
Thank you David! I need to read these words as well and so that is why I have them taped in the back of my Bible. Was there something in particular that resonated with you?
Hi Bill,
I have bought your book and every chapter resonates with me! I have often shared with my brothers and sisters that I would not trade my Nav experience for anything – the tremendous roots it gave me in spiritual disciplines and a foundation of faith that I view as incomparable – and yet (there’s that “yet”), for me as well, it developed in me a performance-based relationship with the Father that I battle with to this day. Thanks for encouraging me that I am not alone in that.
My brother – thank you for your comment. It deeply encourages my heart that you took the time to share. And I still grieve about how my unresolved issues so deeply wounded so many during our U of IL days. For me, I think the shackles of performance are off, but like you, I hear the chains rattling behind me everyday. I desperately need to come back to the gospel everyday. Thanks for walking along. Appreciate you.
Hey Bill,
I just read this this morning in my carpool, on the way to work. Thank you for sharing this and the other weekly posts! Your ministry of grace and the gospel is an encouragement!
As I read these words, they sound amazing, but I must be honest and say that they are hard for me to believe. I want to believe them, but they don’t seem to apply to me at all. I can only pray that one day they will resonate with me.
Thanks again for sharing your journey on a weekly basis!
Jason – Awesome to hear from you. I think of you and pray for you often. We need to get caught up with each other. I have these words taped in the back of my Bible – I need to read them so often. Here is just an idea – read them everyday for a month and let me know what happens. You are a good man my brother.