My Sunday morning was wrecked by God. You see, I wanted to stay in my bad attitude. I wanted linger in unforgiveness a little while longer, but He had different plans.
I had scurried around at home getting ready for church, snapping at my kids to get their shoes on and brush their teeth. I was not loving my family like I should due to frustration that had nothing to do with them…but everything to do with me.
I was carrying a weight of unforgiveness, with a mind full of doubts and starring in my bathroom mirror thinking “WHY am I even going?”
But…I went.
I went because I knew there was probably something I was suppose to hear.
I went because I knew it was the last place the enemy would want me to be.
I went because I knew Jesus would meet me there …
And He did.
The sermon was on Love – so of course I was suppose to be there (lol!). Love and unforgiveness don’t go together. Pastor Danny Kirk led from the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – love is patient, love is kind…
He challenged us to insert our name wherever you would see the word Love. (Ouch!) Placing my name in that scripture was incredibly hard. I didn’t walk in that sanctuary resembling any of the qualities I read on that screen. I didn’t look or sound like Jesus in that moment. I didn’t exemplify, in any way, shape or form what God describes about Love. But…he met me right were I was.
Frustrated, mad, hopeless, unloving, unforgiving.
He graciously poured out His word and refreshed my spirit. All those feelings I had dissipated and I wanted to be like Him.
That’s what God’s word does- it refreshes our soul. It corrects us when we are wrong and shines light on what is right. We can’t stay the same.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
I left that sanctuary different than I came in. I left there with a humbled heart desiring to love and forgive graciously like Jesus-even when it’s hard. That’s what God’s truth does- it changes us and molds us into the image of Jesus and it compels us to love JUST LIKE HIM.
This post first appeared on the Grace Hills Worship Facebook page.