Yesterday was NOT a shining moment for me. I felt overwhelmed by little things, short tempered, and as a result, didn't respond like Jesus would have. Well, I'm pretty sure He never went to His room and screamed into His pillow.
Fast forward eight hours and I find myself at a Youth Worship meeting. I love to worship, but I found myself going over my day, finding all the reasons why I really had no right to come before my Father. I felt like I had nothing to offer Him. Then He gave me this picture:
He was handing me a gift. I was trying to pay for it. I emptied my wallet, my bank account, maxed out my credit cards. I was empty and broke. I looked at Him and said, "this is all I have. I don't have enough to pay for it." As always, He kindly responded "I know, you never will. That is the point. Bring me what you have, and I'll cover the rest."
This is a classic lie and from the evil one. The lie that we can only come to God in a perfect or paid for form. Jesus never wants our "stuff" to get between us and Him. We make our temperament and natural affinities barriers to coming to Jesus. He pays no attention to it, because He only needs what you have, no matter how much or little it is.
Jesus says "Come after me" Mark 1:17. He asks us from across the pond "Jump in and follow me". If I just can't, He comes after me. Immediately, He has His arm wrapped around my shoulder and is walking with me on the beach, until I can jump in deeper. He takes us as we are, and He loves us as we are, but He won't leave us where we are.
