“To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
Gracious Jesus, I woke up with this song begging for my attention. “Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what thou art; I am finding out the greatness of thy loving heart.” (Jean Pigott).
I have a treasured memory of the day these words put me—quite literally, on my face, with joyful tears of release streaming down my cheeks. I was a senior pastor, but a junior in freedom. Much stress, little sleep, and restless struggle finally caught up with me.
It felt so good to feel so helpless—helpless enough to receive what you alone can give: Grace, upon grace, upon grace. From beginning to end, the Gospel is about receiving, not achieving. Resting in you, not vexing about yesterday, today, or tomorrow. But we forget.
We became children of God by receiving you—not impressing you. We become children of freedom by receiving everything you are—not anguishing over everything we’re not.
“Finding out the greatness of your loving heart”… that’s what we need more than anything else, Jesus. More than COVID to be over. More than civility to be restored. More than mere people to “get us.” More than we need oxygen, water, and bread. Help us, free us, heal us. So very Amen we pray, in your great and loving name.