Recently I’ve met with a couple of different people who seemed really down and out. They are riddled from guilt for some bad things that they’ve done and are having a very tough time forgiving themselves and understanding that God loves them in spite of their shortcomings.
One man came and visited me the other day and he’d spent some time in prison. He’s going through an extremely tough time now and is common with most ex-cons who get released he cannot find anyone who’ll hire him, especially in this bleak economy. He’s a very talented musician, he’s articulate and intelligent, and even has a degree in electrical engineering, but alas his prison record knocks him out of consideration.
He wrote a song about how he feels and it’s very moving. I urge you to listen to it and follow by reading the words on his website as the song plays. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt song and it brought tears to my eyes. It’s entitled: You’re Valuable To Me http://dalejmayer.bandcamp.com/track/youre-valuable-to-me
I’ve experienced this same feeling of low self-esteem myself. I suppose it’s one of the consequences of our sin to feel worthless, but the Bible assures us that God loves us in spite of everything that we’ve done, and this is evidenced by His sending Jesus. Though we might feel worthless, God thinks we are fabulous, and as a demonstration of that love He gave His only Son to die a horrific death in order to pay our sin debt so that we might live with Him and know Him and His peace and joy forever!
The Bible tells us to look forward and not behind. That’s good, because I don’t like what I see when I look in the rear view mirror. Today is a brand new day just waiting for us to make the most of it and I much prefer to look towards it and tomorrow. Yesterday’s gone and I’d just as soon forget it aside from taking what I can glean from it and trying to improve upon it and not make the same mistakes over and over again.
Yesterday hundreds of people came to Honey Lake and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner. The weather was picture perfect, families walked around enjoying the day, kids were riding their bikes and playing games, folks were laughing and talking and lining up to take plantation tours, and a steady stream of visitors entered the HLP church and sat quietly praying and offering thanks to our almighty God. Last night some had campfires and Smores, and I went down to visit some guests who were gathered around the lodge playing music and the entire family was singing songs and having a blast.
I believe this is what God wants for us.
Like the song says, “We are valuable” to Him and He wants good times for us. Satan wants us to feel bad about ourselves and be riddled with guilt and shame. There is no shame in the blood of Christ and it washed all those sins away. To detract from that is to take away from His sacrifice. Don’t be a part of that. Forgive yourself as God has done and move on today.
Enjoy your holiday and your life. All it takes is faith and faith comes by hearing the word of God. (See below). Selah…
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!
Luke 5:20
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”