Sin, shame, condemnation, guilt, regrets, fear of punishment, rule-keeping, failures, distress, judgement, strife, sicknesses, diseases, death: NAILED! Every one of those things born on Jesus’ body and nailed to that cross, come from us trying to be like God because of Adam.
They come from trying, striving, doing…in an effort to please Him. Those things come from rule-keeping, law-living. Condemnation is the direct result of trying to live out a list of do’s and dont’s before God; a list we could never, would never and were never meant to try to live out.
Trying to be somebody we think we’re supposed to be for God and everything that comes with that, is actually everything that keeps us from intimacy with Him. And yet, it’s that law-living that exists to reveal our need for a Savior!
That’s why your Father, your Lover, your Rescuer, your Shepherd, your Best Friend, came to save you from that dead-end life to bring you into a real – get that- A REAL life-giving relationship with Him! How did He do this?
He took upon Himself every one of those rule-keeping requirements, the judgement and the curses that come with them. Jesus, our second Adam, became everything we once were in the first Adam. And then He wiped our slate clean with His blood! Gone! Gone! Gone!
“He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—he deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto his cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation.”
Colossians 2:14 TPT
Child of God, the sins you can’t forget, He can’t remember! Jesus, our perfect sacrifice became our one and only substitute! He bore all those things you despise about yourself so now you can dance over them! Yes, in your flesh, you still see and experience them. But because you believe in what Christ has done for you, in God’s Presence, you are complete, blameless and flawless right now and forever! (Hebrews 10:14, 17).
What crazy Love this is! This Unconditional Love that gives and gives and gives some more! There’s nothing for you to do except believe in and trust what He has done-as you-and for you! For a right relationship with God comes through trust alone! Your identity, your connection with Him and your worth come NOT from ANYTHING you do or don’t do. They come from Jesus alone. Raised in His righteousness, you can get back to the freedom He died to give you. How? By simply being yourself with Him.
Your weaknesses and vulnerability are actually your fuel for intimacy. Your mistakes, failures, brokenness and emptiness are your gifts to Him, not the other way around. The more you bring them to Jesus, allowing, accepting and expecting His unconditional love to wash over you there, you make room for His Resurrection Life to restore and revive you.
Come and be relaxed again-in your humanity-in His Presence. Let Him give to you. Let Him be All you need as you let yourself be real; no role-playing, pretending, performing or perfecting. Where sin increases, Grace superabounds. Where your mess and darkness arise, His Light penetrates and illuminates. His Grace is greater still, His Love is deeper still.
The cross declares, “You are free to lay down your frantic life!” His finished work is where your life begins. A life of resting in the One who found His rest in laying down His life for you. A life of real communion, friendship and closeness with the One who dreamed you up so you could simply be His. All your life fountains are found in Him. You can stop trying to live the perfect Christian life. Jesus, the only One who could, did, on your behalf. And your union with Him comes from you simply resting in that.
Glorious, Magnificent, Triumphant Savior! This is Good Friday! It always is, always has been and always will be a Good, Good Father!
Resting In His Love,
Annalee Reyes