The Greatest Gift of Jesus: A Christmas Writing

As time has gone on, I’ve come to truly believe that the only thing that could keep someone from giving their life to Jesus is misunderstanding. To reject all that’s offered through faith in Christ, I would have to believe a person really doesn’t understand the miraculous and generous gift being offered to them.

Maybe it’s “due to the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts”. Perhaps it’s due to a willful misunderstanding. (Ephesians 4:18, Romans 1:28) Or sometimes…

Maybe their experience with Christianity has been a rigid one—full of harsh rules, strict punishment, guilting, or the feeling of never measuring up. Maybe their experience has been one where they felt out-of-place, unseen, or unloved. Maybe it is nothing so dramatic but merely the idea that they’re “doing just fine” or that humankind may just save the day all on its own. Whatever it may be, I just wish every person could know the real version of God’s offer to us in Jesus.

I’ve struggled on my own with Christianity. I wouldn’t have said I was struggling at the time, but looking back, so much of how I practiced my faith actually had to do with hoping that if I followed God’s rules well enough, I might earn his favor. And I really wanted his favor. I liked the idea of someone being pleased with me and I found the guidelines in His book to seem wise enough. The circles I walked with found the behavior of the Bible to be nice and likable… I believed Jesus died because that was what I had been told, but there was a still a pressure to perform and an unsatisfied hunger that carried me through the motions of my faith.

The more I began to learn about what I’ll call “the true gospel”, the more it blew my mind. I would quietly read my bible in the early morning and wonder at the words before my eyes. “Is it really this good?” “Could this actually be what it’s about?” “How have I missed THIS?”

The good news is this: Jesus didn’t come into the world to crack down on us. It wasn’t to create a set of religious standards that he could then coerce people to abide by based on their own abilities. John 3:17 tells us that God sent Jesus into the world to save the world. And the verse before that tells us it was an act prompted by the great, great love God had for the people in the world.

God sent Jesus to save us.

The truth is, if we have the eyes to see it, this world is a messed up and broken place. If we look at ourselves honestly, we know we are broken too. We need saving. It may be as subtle as a bad attitude or as obvious as a murder charge. It might be a nagging feeling of heartbreak, social anxiety, or ever-looming anger. You might say all of that is just part of being human—and you’d be right. Humanity has a problem with brokenness.

But there may be another part of you hoping somewhere deep that that’s not the way humanity was meant to be. God would agree with that.

He created the world in perfection but humanity chose to do evil. Every person has chosen to do evil. God loves humanity but he’s also really committed to fairness, or justice. He knows that evil acts/thoughts/beliefs deserve punishment, and yet he desperately doesn’t want punishment for the people he loves so much. He knows that he is so good, that evil has no place near him. Yet he longs to be near the people he created. (Get ready for the good news.)

So what did He do? In perfect justice and love, God sent Jesus to receive the punishment that we deserve. But not just that, he also raised Jesus back to life to be advocating for us in heaven—that means he has our backs, defends us and understands why we do what we do. Jesus endured every bit of temptation when he walked the earth, which makes him the perfect person to love and defend you.

Jesus defends those who trust him. So if you’ve had the understanding that Christianity means you’re going to be accused of doing wrong all the time, that’s not the spirit of this message. It’s not accusation and punishment, but an offer of defense and acquittal.

To be saved, we must admit our need for saving, remembering this: God wants to redeem and restore his people. He loves us. And we have Jesus to defend us. He sees our struggles and hardships and wants to carry them, to walk alongside us in all that we face.

Any understanding that Christianity is for the person who wants to be self-righteous and judgmental of others has been lied to. It’s totally the opposite. True christianity is for the person who sees brokenness in themselves and the world, and wants to be honest about it. They want God’s way but they know they need help. When we trust in Jesus—that he died for our broken state and was raised to life to advocate for us—we receive eternal life with God… and so much on this earth as well.

The Bible teaches us that when we put our faith in Jesus, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Basically, that’s God’s vehicle for producing change in our hearts and minds. We trade in our old attitudes and desires for His good ways. We don’t receive a new rulebook; we receive new desires that cause us to want God’s ways—which bring life and goodness to us. We no longer even view God’s ways as binding, but we see that any guideline God offers us is for our good.

He wants to help us and restore us, producing good in our life. And there is so much grace, forgiveness, and love for us along the way when we miss the mark. Trusting Jesus means we receive a whole heap of love and favor from God which touches down in every area of our life.

The Bible says that those who trust in Christ are adopted as God’s children, and it’s permanent. We get to call him “Papa”. We can trust that we are fully seen, loved, known, guided, and protected. We pray and ask for help and the Holy Spirit works so deeply in our hearts and minds that God helps us from the inside out.

In addition to the title of “God’s child”, the help of the Holy Spirit, eternal salvation, a new heart with godly desires, and the multi-faceted favor of God, we receive even more: a family. God has a whole big group of people ready to encourage you, love you, help you, and support you as you learn how to live this new life.

In generosity, he also gives us the Bible (which by-the-way, isn’t just some ancient book)… sometimes I wonder if people discount the Bible because it’s a physical item. After all, it’s literally paper made from trees with ink printed on it. Just like any other book is paper with ink printed on it. But I would like to offer a different perspective: God loves humans SO much that he wanted this great news to be so accessible, so “on their level”, so attainable, that he wrote the mystery of Jesus out on paper. It’s supremely valuable, and yet, incredible available.

God loves the people of the world and, though he is all things majestic and holy, has made himself accessible to them. This is the true message of love, hope, and goodness found in the Bible. It’s a gift to be received by whoever may choose to receive it.

That’s what Christmas is. A huge celebration of all that God offers to people through faith in Jesus.

Jesus came and died for our sin so that we could have access to God. Jesus wipes our slate clean and our faith in him brings about our adoption into God’s family.

If living in this good news is your reality, I hope you take some special moments this Christmas to celebrate the ultimate gifts God gives you in Christ.

If you haven’t entrusted your life to Jesus and received all the glorious grace offered through him, this year can be the year you get to experience the true celebration of Christmas. It’s so much better than candy canes and reindeer—it’s everything your heart has ever craved, and more.

(Message me if you’re looking for support in how to take the first steps in life with Jesus. I’m here for you!)

Alllll the love this Christmas,

Annalisa

A Look at the Sunflower: How Looking to God Makes Us Shine

If you’ve ever walked past a field of sunflowers, you may have noticed how each of the sunflower’s blooms all turn the same direction. This flower is designed to seek out the sun for its nutrients and for optimal growth.

Sunlight serves up so much goodness in our world, that it’s no wonder why in John 8:12, Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world.

Light is known for its warmth and life-giving nature. It feeds plants and serves humankind by boosting serotonin levels (and in turn uplifting moods, and bringing focus and calm).

In Matthew 5:25, we see Jesus helping people understand the loving and generous nature of God by noting that God causes the sun to shine on both evil and good people.

God is loving. And we love others because we have first seen God’s love. When a person has received the light of Christ, it’s only natural to let that light overflow onto those surrounding them.

But it can be hard. Jesus knew there was a temptation to not shine our light, which might be why he encouraged people in Matthew 5:14 by telling them that they are the light of the world. He tells them to not hide their light, but to choose to shine.

In fact, when people do good deeds, it actually increases God’s glory. When people see your light and goodness, it points to God’s light and goodness.

So, in what ways might you shine your light?

Ephesians 2:10 is a beautiful verse that speaks to this because it describes how we are crafted by God:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Let’s break down that word handiwork: quite literally, it means “a thing that has been made” or a thing that has a creator”. Some versions even use the word masterpiece. Others translate that word as poetry.

There’s another place in the Bible this particular word is used, and it’s in Romans 1:20, which tells us that since the creation of the world, God’s qualities have been seen and known through what has been made. Again, it’s that idea that God is known through his creation.

Letting his creation breathe, and be, and shine, brings Him glory. Because he made it!

You. Were. Made. With. Purpose. With intentionality and by design.

Consider what makes you unique: what makes you sing? What makes you tick? What skills do you have? What has your life experience been? What people groups are you drawn to? What do you like to read, or watch, or do?

We are vastly different from one another, and if we look at the diversity of creation, it would seem that God delights in these variances.

We don’t walk in the way Jesus has for us by trying to copy the Christianity of our neighbor. God has plans for you. And plans for them! He has plans that he actually has laid out for quite some time. You have been crafted especially for his purposes. I hope that fills your heart with a sense of hope and great value.

What are some other ways people might vary?

Do you enjoy serving with children? Are you passionate about orphans? About making gospel connections in the workplace? Are there neighbors you really enjoy? People whose stories break your heart and fill you with compassion? Do you feel a fire for the local church? Do you dream of teaching? Or love to do the behind-the-scenes work?

Do you bring forth the kingdom of God by creating order and beauty in the world around you? Do you tend, caretake, and rule in the arena God has called you to?

There are so many directions this can go, but the point is, that God has made us all uniquely and placed us right where we are. He has plans for us. He made us.

So next time you’re tempted to think that you should be hiding who you are, or what you like, or how you feel called to serve, consider the sunflower.

The sunflower is continually turning its face to the sun as it grows to new heights. We also, get to look to our light source, Jesus, and grow in the design he has for us. We can believe that he made us wonderful, because his Word tells us that. (Psalm 139)

Look to Jesus. We find him in the Word, in Creation, and in God’s people who are reported all through Scripture as gifted to help one another grow and strengthen and learn in order to attain the fullness that Christ has in store for them. (Ephesians 4:12-13)

As believers, he’s in our hearts. We are made as new creations in Christ and he causes us to will and to act in order to fulfill his purposes.

Philippians 2:13 (Amplified Version) puts it this way:

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

May you be filled with the light of Christ, and shine on the world around you.

---

See the sunflower card, and seven other botanical beauties in the boxed set below!

God's Grace to Us in Suffering: Encouraging Words from Romans

I’m on day seven of being sick, and at the risk of sounding dramatic, I’ll say, it has been totally and completely brutal. As much as I’d love to be one of those tough-it-out, put-on-your-brave-face, get-it-done sick people…I’m more of a weepy, groaning, snotty, symptom-googling mess.

I haven’t had the capacity to dig into my bible much this week. I’ve cracked it open here and there, but something about reading makes my head feel like it’s on a merry-go-round. Even my prayer life has been desperate. You’d think that someone who is just lying in bed would have tons of time to pray, but I’m realizing praying takes energy. Have you heard Romans 8:26? It describes my prayer life lately:

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pay for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

Laying there, I’ve just been like, “um God, hi. Don’t even know what to pray for but Holy Spirit, help!” Then I vaguely go through all the things both presently and upcoming that are weighing for me and just trust that the Holy Spirit is bringing my prayers before God.

Anyways, that was a tangent. What I want to write about today is the little treasure I found when I was able to open my Bible. I opened to Romans 5 and came across this:

…we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

That’s right, the one significant time I was able to read God’s word, I came across a passage on suffering. And it blessed me.

What does it mean to glory in our sufferings? When you dive into that word in its original greek, it means you have joy, or rejoice, or boast (find satisfaction in) in your suffering. So, we can rejoice in times of suffering, because we know that it’s producing perseverance, character, and hope.

This means, in hardship, even though it’s completely miserable and I really would like to be healthy, my heart is more open to what God might be producing in me. I’ve seen him do a deep work in hard times before, and that gives me hope as I walk through hard times again.

When I was pregnant with my second son, I was a wreck. I experienced nausea that lasted months and months. So little energy. Pain in places I probably shouldn’t write about on the internet… It was a hard season of life and I remember just laying on the couch feeling completely inept: I couldn’t help my family. Couldn’t cook. Could hardly smile. Couldn’t make jokes. Couldn’t take my son on walks. You get the idea.

Would you believe it if I told you that I wouldn’t trade that season for anything? (No, not because that season gave me my second son, though that is incredible…)

I wouldn’t trade that season because it exposed so many of the ways I looked for validation. What I mean by that, is it showed me all the things in life I was doing that made me feel like I was “good”, or “enough”. I believed that if I was *this* patient with my kids, or *that* kind to my husband, or *this* generous in my friendships, that I was good. I thought that being a Christian meant I loved and served others. Now of course, Christians often do do that, but that’s not what makes them a Christian. We are Christians because Jesus died for us. Because we needed a Savior and we have placed our faith in Jesus to make us right with God. We are good and we are enough before we even do anything, because Jesus covered all our our wrongdoings and insufficiencies by dying on the cross. He paid the penalty for all the times we fail.

I walked out of that season stronger than ever because I was more secure: I was secure in my faith and I was secure in the fact that I had value and worth even when all I could do was lay on the couch. Jesus used every ounce of that pain to expose what was really going on in my beliefs. He was willing to let health and happiness leave me in order to show me that he was all that I need.

(And just a little reminder that health and happiness are good things. Jesus spent so much of his ministry on earth showing us God’s character by healing and resurrecting people… but he did this in order to point them to himself as their savior. Good things are only good things until they get in the way of God. God is the ultimate thing we need, for both now and eternity.)

So, as I go on day seven of sickness, and as much as I desperately want to get better, there is this little glimmering hope inside me. I could even call it excitement. I believe that God allows trials to come to us so that he can produce something in us that is good—that builds our faith, our character, our life. He is the giver of life and good things! I know he will bring something good from this trial. Romans 8:28 secures that belief:

“For we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

I’m realizing this verse comes right after the scripture I mentioned earlier. Just for kicks, let’s look up the whole chunk. Below is Romans 8:22-28:

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

What an encouragement… this scripture tells me I must not be the only one groaning! ;) But seriously, we face hard things on this side of eternity. But it produces in us the hope that saves us. God uses our trials to build the one thing that truly saves us and makes us secure: our hope and faith in Jesus.

**Was this an encouragement to you? Or might it encourage someone you know? Feel free to share or comment below!

Fighting Fear: The Peace in Remembering God's Present Help

Last night, I can’t remember what I was thinking about, but I remember that I was feeling afraid. Probably about some upcoming circumstances that I wanted to go well, but was afraid wouldn’t go well. That’s when an old familiar scripture came to mind, “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

I ended on that note as I fell asleep, and this morning came across the story in Matthew 8, where Jesus and his disciples are on a boat crossing the lake. Suddenly, there is a massive storm and the disciples freak out—they think they’re going to drown. (And who can blame them… it says the waves were sweeping over the boat!) Jesus is sound asleep, napping after healing a massive crowd of people. They wake Jesus up with their fears and he immediately asks them, “Why are you so afraid?” He settles the storm back to stillness, simply by speaking.

What stands out to me about this story is that the disciples had just witnessed Jesus heal person after person. They knew he was capable of mighty things, and yet, when the storm came, it’s like fear wiped their memory clean. Jesus called this phenomenon what it was: a lack of faith. If you’re anything like me, you hear that and might think it sounds a little harsh… but remember how Jesus is described in John 1:14… as one full of grace and truth. With grace I’m sure, he loved the disciples enough to give them an honest description of what was going on in their hearts.

God doesn’t want us to fear. In fact, he took enough care to talk about fear many, many times throughout the Bible. The command “do not fear” is written in the Bible 365 times! (That’s right... once for every day of the year.) And please, don’t be too hard on yourself when you feel anxious or afraid; it’s a common condition of mankind. Instead, find joy in knowing there are truths we can repeat back to ourselves that calm us and remind us of what’s really true.

Let’s take a look at a few of the verses that discuss fear, and I wonder if you’ll notice a theme as we go. There is a common thread throughout so many of these scriptures that is both prominent and crucial. Just a warning: I’m going to share quite a few to illustrate just how consistent the message is. ;)

• Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

• God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3

• For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13

• 'So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.' Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Geneseis 50:21

• You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22

• You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:11

• Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

• Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. Jeremiah 42:1

• You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ Lamentations 3:57

• So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6

Do you see here what the antidote of fear is? Remembering that God is with us. That he helps us. That he will provide for us. He strengthens us. He is our shield. He saves us. He is near. The list goes on…
Next time you feel afraid, you can remind yourself of these things. Notice when you’re afraid. Whether it’s a doctor’s impending diagnosis, a presentation at work, or if you’re just afraid you’re going to lose your patience with your kids… you can say to yourself: “God is with me. He is a real help when I’m in trouble. I can go to him. I can trust him.” And ask your loving Father in heaven for help! (More on asking for help here.)

What this has looked like for me, was having some notecards next to my bed as I was getting near to my labor due date. When I was nervous about having my second baby, I think I read Isaiah 41:10 about one hundred times. It’s no wonder that it popped into my head the other night… repeating scripture back to yourself buries it deep in your heart and is there to pull on as we walk through the daily moments of life.

You have a Heavenly Father who loves you and is truly present. He walks with us in life and holds the power in his hands to help us, comfort us, and provide all we need.

**Did this encourage you? Let me know with a “like” or comment below… or share with a friend who may be blessed!

Living Vertically: Embracing the Truth of Christ's Approval

There’s a special kind of power you find within yourself when you start living in sight of God alone. You could call it the power of the Holy Spirit maybe, or a strength that comes from living as one who deeply loved. Whatever you call it, it’s something I wish for everyone.

You see, those of who have placed our faith in Christ are approved by God. I’ve heard it said that when God looks at us, it’s like he’s looking at us with Jesus-colored sunglasses on. Our sin is *covered* by Christ. Our sins were gross enough to earn us death penalty, but Jesus paid our ransom in full. Believers are in a *perfect* relationship with God—fully walking in the love they were always meant for, with their sins no longer being counted against them. No wonder they call this "the good news"!

Now, what does this have to do with living vertically, or living in sight of God alone? When we live our life thinking about how God sees us, we can spend each moment with peace.

• If we do well and things go well, we can have joy knowing God looks at us like a loving Father looks at his children. He loves seeing you shine!

• If we do what we believe to be good and things go poorly, we can know we are met with the God of all compassion, who sees our best intentions. We don’t need to be consumed with how others receive our actions, but can rest knowing that God knew the whole story; he knows we are doing our best.

• If we do something wrong, and things go poorly, we are met with a God who wants to guide us back into his way because he loves us and he knows what is good. He is full of grace, patience, mercy, and goodness towards his children. So again, we don’t have to be consumed with how others view our follies. We can consider what it means between us and God, turn from what was wrong, and take steps forward as we are led by His loving hand.

We live in the world: we have victories and we make mistakes. But we don’t have to walk in the anxiety of living to please other people, or trying to take their happiness into our own hands. The second we start looking side-to-side for our value or affirmation, or living horizontally, we feel the weight of a pressure that we were never meant to bear.

We can’t control what anyone thinks about us. We could spend our whole lives trying... but I’m sure you can imagine (or have felt) the pressure and stress that comes from trying to measure up to everyone’s ever-changing expectations. That’s no way to live. Anxiety comes when we try to control what we can’t control. And plus, what others think about us doesn’t really matter anyways. We can choose to live for the only opinion that matters: His. And he loves us!

Wanting to please people isn’t the problem; the killer is placing our own worth as contingent on their favorable opinion. Of course we want to love people and be a blessing to them, but we do that because God first loved us and blesses us. We live out of the overflow of our relationship with God. And that’s a really full relationship. Full of love, mercy, tenderness, and kindness.

So, the next time you find yourself worked up or worn out, because you have an image to uphold or a standard you want to meet, rest in the truth that you can live in view of God alone. Look up towards Him and know that he is with you—loving you and guiding you. Those in Christ, you are fully approved and dressed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus.

**Was this a blessing to you? Let me know in the comment below, or share with a friend who might be encouraged! :)

Turning Prayers Into Peace: Trading Anxiety for Heavenly Help

Worry got me again!

What is it about this human machine that has me so quickly turning to despair when I can’t do things in my own strength? (Sounds like pride… or maybe a lack of faith…) Whatever it is, I praise God for his kindness in redirecting my heart to the truth. The truth is that I was never meant to do this thing called life according to my own strength. Even more, he is actually glorified in my weakness. Because the good news? That’s when God comes through by His strength.

Minutes ago, I put my children down for a nap and I just felt spent and not even by anything “major”. My children were sick today, our laundry is in mounds (and I mean mounds), and I can’t for the life of me figure out how to use Adobe Illustrator. Feeling overwhelmed by some of the little things had me questioning my abilities in some of my bigger callings and commitments. I felt unequipped, incapable, and bummed out.

I knelt down on the ground (not out of holiness—I was hiding from my neighbors), and laid it all out for God. It was some real Psalmist-kind-of-stuff, some untidy pouring out. I wasn’t quite sure where it was going, but it felt good to process how I was really feeling. That might be a good place to start, but it’s not the best place to stay. Even in the most heart-wrenching of Psalms, you’ll often see a shift in thinking where the person writing goes from despair, to hope in God. (Psalm 42 is a great example of this.)

It reminds me of the type of shift we see in Philippians 4:6-7.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

What a gracious gift to the anxious heart… some nice and clear directions. Don’t be anxious… BUT in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (My own emphasis added.)

What if, when our worries came, we turned them into requests? Thankful, petitioning, requests? Oftentimes we feel overwhelmed by our own circumstances because we are sensing that what is before us is beyond our own strength or abilities. That’s an okay place to be. It’s actually a wonderful place to be. God didn’t design us to do life solo. We were made for dependence on Him.

Check out the Message version of James 1:4-6.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. James 1:4-6 MSG

We have two choices: worry our prayers, or ask boldly, believingly, for help from God.

We were made to be needy before God. It reveals a heart of faith when we seek God’s help and bring him our heart—sharing what’s really going on in our thoughts and feelings. Making requests to God is a fruitful way to address what needs to be addressed in our hearts, while also laying our worries at His feet. Pretending anxiety isn’t there won’t make it go away, but bringing our true worries to the Father, and requesting his help once we come to Him—can bring deep peace. It builds our faith as we trust God’s kindness and goodness towards us. The ability to approach God is one of the greatest gifts Jesus died to give us.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV

**Did this encourage you or help bring clarity to your heart and mind? Let me know in the comments! Or feel free to share with a friend who might be encouraged. :)

Sermon on the Mount: Hard Truth, Tender Grace

I’m sure you’ve felt it—that pit in your stomach when you feel you’ve said or done something wrong. It sweeps across you instantly as you realize your insensitivity to someone’s circumstances, the harshness of your tone, or the anger furrowing your brow. Once again, you know you’ve missed the mark.

I was reading the Sermon on the Mount the other day and realized this old familiar feeling come creeping back with each line of Jesus describing what constituted sin or unrighteousness. To paraphrase: “Anger is just as bad as murder. Lusting is just as bad as adultery. (Divorce is like adultery, too.) Don’t make oaths. Give generously to those who want to take from you. Oh, and love the people who hate your guts.”

As I read through this sermon, it’s like I can feel the light leaving my eyes. My heart falls and my head hangs. Is this what I’ve signed up for? A deep discouragement that I will never be able to live up to God’s standards?

I’m overwhelmed by how much I can’t do that. Maybe if I’m really thinking about good behavior for a few minutes, I can pull it off… on the outside at least… Maybe if I am entirely focused on one of those things for a day, I could almost do it… But in the midst of toddlers spilling cheerios, racing to get my teeth brushed, and planning my grocery run in my head, my true tendencies slip right out as I observe bits of anger, envy, or self-interest seep into my thoughts and actions.

The thing about Jesus is that he came to us full of grace and truth. I’ll say that again: grace and truth. The truth is that what Jesus described here in his sermon— that unrighteousness runs deep in human bones—is all too evident. The truth is that avoiding “the big things” like murdering someone are not all it takes to be considered righteous by a Holy God. Think about it: if God was cool with a little bit of anger, or lust, or selfishness, or envy… would he really be infinitely pure and perfect? His standards for goodness are as glorious as he is. You can trust Jesus to tell you the truth. He isn’t going to sugarcoat it or lie to you. He also isn’t going to leave his people doomed in their reality.

More than the Sermon on the Mount gives us a prescription for daily living, it gives us a diagnosis of our need for a Savior. When we look at that list and ask ourselves, “how can I muster the strength to make this happen?,” we end up disheartened and discouraged. When we look at it and have the humility to say “I don’t have the strength to make that happen,” we can turn our hearts to Jesus. This is where the grace comes in.

Jesus died to give us that perfect righteousness we know is required of us when we read Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” He paid the penalty for our sins, shortcomings, mark-missing, because he knew that us attaining righteousness on our own simply was not going to happen. He came to us telling the truth about our sin, and offering us the grace that covers our shortcomings by his death on our behalf.

So by the miracle of Jesus, we find ourselves able to approach God freely and righteously, and honestly. Not because we were able to abide by all the standards ourselves, but because we were honest enough with ourselves to admit that we desperately needed a savior.

We can read the high standard Jesus describes in the Sermon on the Mount and while we may be right to acknowledge that we are far from righteousness, our hearts can rest in the certainty of Christ’s atonement on our behalf. Grace can outshine shame, as Jesus outshines us.

**If this was encouraging to you, I’d love to hear about it in a comment below! Or if you think it would encourage a friend, feel free to share. :)