Far From Perfect

S - "Paul looked directly at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.” At that the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?” Those standing near him said, “Do you dare insult God’s high priest?” Paul replied, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’” … The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” "(Acts 23:1-5, 11 NET)

O - A couple of things stand out to me in this passage. First, Paul is clearly not Jesus:). His experience of being unjustly struck is almost identical to what happened to Jesus at his trial too. The difference is in how they respond. Paul reacts with a harsh reply and Jesus with a clarifying question (cf. John 18:22-23). Paul will quickly recant and Jesus won't need to. Both of them were unjustly accused, both of them were declared innocent of any crime and neither of them received a fair trial or were released. The second standout for me is that flawless performance is not required of Paul or of us. Jesus will make no mistakes ever and Paul clearly did. Yet, Jesus will stand by him the following evening to affirm and encourage him without any commentary or rebuke. Jesus doesn't say, 'Now about your failure in Jerusalem, make sure you don't make the same stupid mistake in Rome.' He's not demanding or expecting us to be flawless just blameless … the very thing he accomplished for us.

A - It's a wonderful reality to be completely relieved of the pressure to perform. The love God has for me, my place in his will and family was not secured nor is it maintained by anything I do. Jesus did not come to make a way for amnesty but adoption. We are loved because we are his. I have made so many mistakes in my life, sinned knowing better and failed even when I really gave it my best. Regardless of my best or my worst his love and will do not flicker. He has loved me first, most and refuses to change his mind. Today and every day he's working everything for good, even my failures. He doesn't demand perfection, he provides it. He doesn't want me under the pressure of performance but under the unflickering security of his love. He's not counting on me making no mistakes he's calling me to come near and stay. The disciple Jesus loved wrote: "(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world." (1 John 2:1, 2 NET)

P - Lord who is flawless,

Thank you for always wanting me/us near no matter what … no matter where I've been or what I've done. Thank you for your relentless love and for refusing to change your mind even when I give you a reason to do so. Thank you for working EVERYTHING for good, not just good things. I accept your call and invitation to come near, follow and believe. I do love you back. I say yes to everything you already have in mind to do.

Confident according to your love,

Steve