Problems, struggles, guilt and shame are all things we deal with. They impede and block our thoughts, our emotions and they often hold us back. One of the biggest dangers we need to battle against in dealing with these things, I believe, is this: we cannot allow them to prevent us from coming to God. If I find myself sitting in a service and resistant to come before God then I am dangerous place. If I am holding back from God even if I am feeling distant or struggling, then I am not a recognizing his place in my life. It is easy for us to be too angry, too hurt, too depressed, too ashamed to come before Jesus and engage not only in worship but even in relationship. The biggest risk factor for any relationship we have is silence. If we are not communicating, sharing and expressing ourselves (our real selves) then we are not engaging in real relationship. It is the same in our relationship with Jesus but there is one big difference. When we bring these things to Jesus he doesn't seek to dismiss them, minimize them or hold us in contempt. He desires to help us be free of them. He doesn't call us to live filled with guilt and shame over our failings. He calls us to come to him and receive grace. He knows us completely and yet we often feel compelled to either hide from him or pull away because we don't measure up. But that is the point that Jesus tries to make clear to us, we can never measure up. That is what Jesus came to do, provide the means by which we can measure up, his blood. Jesus doesn't call us to him because of some potential that lies dormant in us. He calls us because he loves us, and he wants us to know completely what the love is like. So my point this week?
Don't let anything stop you from coming to Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
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