Rejoice in Forgiveness

Some time back I was reading Nehemiah where Ezra is reading the Book of the Law to the people, and these verses caught my attention: “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep… And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (8:9-10 ESV). When the people heard the law, they were convicted of their sin and their natural response was mourning, but Nehemiah told them they had reason to rejoice. His words are reminiscent of David’s experience some 500 years earlier—“David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.’” (2 Samuel 12:13). After which David wrote, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2).

From my own experience and things I’ve read from many different authors, I think we all have a tendency to hang onto guilt longer than we need to. We know that God’s forgiveness is available and is freely given to all who confess, and yet we can’t let go of the mourning and turn to celebration.

When the woman was caught in adultery, Jesus told her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11). He didn’t scold her or give her penance to do. He simply released her from guilt so she could have a fresh start. She could have been stoned to death for her sin, but instead she was set free. I have no doubt she celebrated that day.

Although a contrite attitude could indicate that we think our sin is too big to be forgiven, I wonder if the bigger problem is that we think we can contribute something to our forgiveness? Our view of sin is too small—we don’t realize that every sin is worthy of death. How can a person on death row do anything to earn forgiveness? We deserve death just as much as the woman caught in adultery, yet we are forgiven because of Jesus’ death on our behalf. That should be reason enough to rejoice! To remain mournful when God has delivered us from death is to say that His forgiveness isn’t good enough. Are we questioning His power, mercy, love, and authority?

I shared this quote on Facebook as it related to the sermon we heard this Sunday, but it’s worth revisiting:

“I cannot imagine the depth of love the Savior had for us in those moments of extreme suffering—unfathomable love causing Him to choose moment after agonizing moment to subject himself to what He could have ended. Thanks be to God that Jesus persevered till the task was completed! With His last breath He exclaimed, It is finished, and committed His spirit to the Father, dying in our place” (Marci Julin, When You Can’t Trust His Heart, 87).

So as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, may we all remember the greatest reason to give thanks— 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life… These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 3:16, 15:11).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan. 

Unseen and Seen

Her heart was pounding as she looked at the crowd in front of her. What she was about to do was by far the most terrifying thing she’d ever done. Harder than twelve years of calling out “Unclean!” as people walked by. Harder than twelve years of explaining her problem to doctors just to have them shake their head instead of providing a cure. Harder than twelve years of being banned from the Temple and isolated from her family. Her shame was a heavy burden, but her desperation was greater. She hid her face and slipped into the crowd, hoping that no one would recognize her and point her out. “If I can just touch the Healer’s garment...” Desperation drove her forward when fear tried to hold her back. Her hand slipped between two men and brushed the fringe of His cloak. She knew immediately it had worked and she quickly started to move away, but the Healer had noticed. He stopped and looked around, asking who had touched Him. His eyes met hers and she fell at His feet as the shame of twelve years crushed her to the ground. She started babbling an explanation, but she wasn’t even sure if the words were coming out. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart. “Daughter...” What did He say? “My daughter, lift up your head. Look at Me.” He reached down and grasped her hands, the first person to touch her in twelve years. As He drew her to her feet, she looked into His eyes and saw no condemnation, only love. Twelve years of shame and fear, pain and weakness, all fell away in that moment. “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your disease.”

The faith of this unnamed woman not only brought her healing, it also got her mentioned in three of the gospels. A woman who had been unclean and unseen caught the attention of the whole crowd. It must have been a memorable experience if Matthew, Mark and Luke all felt the need to share her story. Of all the names Jesus could have called her, He chose to call her Daughter, the same name used of Jairus’s child whose healing she was interrupting. This woman was no less important than the daughter of a synagogue ruler. Both of them received new life that day.

Although none of us really understand what it would be like to be unclean and outcast under the Jewish law, we all can think of moments of shame when all we wanted to do was disappear. Jesus could have let the woman be healed quietly and covertly and no one else needed to know what had just happened. He called her out, not just to reveal that she was physically healed, but to bring wholeness out of her brokenness, grace out of her shame, and strength out of her weakness. Her moment of deepest shame became a moment of splendor. God’s glory was revealed in a life that was not just healed but transformed.

God wants to do that for each of us. When we would settle for relief from pain and disease, He has a much greater plan of redemption. When we would like to simply enjoy a measure of healing, He wants to use our stories for His glory. He can take all our shame and weakness and brokenness and bring comfort, encouragement, and faith to many others, but only if we are willing to be seen. He can redeem our shame for His splendor. All we have to do is take those fearful, trembling steps forward to fall at His feet.

As much as I want to be used by God, I confess that shame is a powerful demotivator. It seems far easier to stay hidden and hurting than to take those little steps of faith toward wholeness. It seems easier to find ways to cope with the hardships of life than to let God uncover them for all the world to see and to judge. But His grace is greater than all our sin, shame, and suffering. Do I believe that today? Do you? Will we choose to be trust the One who knows all our secrets and risk being seen?

“Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You” (Psalm 25:20 ESV).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan.

Pinpoints

Awhile back I was walking in my yard after dark and in the grass I saw a tiny little point of light. I turned on my flashlight and poked around and decided it was coming from a glowworm larvae that was about a quarter inch long. The glowing part was only a little dot on one end. It was quite amazing to think that something so small could catch my attention in the dark.

This world that we live in is getting darker all the time with legislation, politics, terrorism, persecution, etc. Things are getting progressively less comfortable for Christians. It’s not hard to bear the name of Christian when we’re in the majority or at least are respected. It’s easy to be a light in a light world. It’s not so easy when even the tiniest light draws hostile attention. Yet that is exactly what we are called to do: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 ESV). Obviously the people who see us will not all give glory to God, but our actions should glorify God regardless of how others react. His approval should be all that matters.

Paul wrote, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). That comes in the midst of a whole chapter about persecution, affliction, and perseverance. The psalmist said, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Affliction is the fire that refines our faith. Many who once claimed to be Christian will no longer do so when it has negative consequences. Others who have been on the fringes may accept that God’s way is the only way and their light will shine that much brighter.

With some of the statements being made by prominent Christians in recent weeks, defending positions that are incompatible with Scripture, I mourn the fact that their lights have grown dim. They claim to represent Christ and His Word, but they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. They are no longer glorifying God as a light shining in the darkness because they are indistinguishable from the world and they are leading people away from the truth.

Scripture has a lot to say about the light, walking in the light, and the judgment that will come against those who walk in darkness. For example:

• “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
• “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their works were evil… But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3:19, 21).

We who belong to God need to be careful to guard against error, deception, and compromise, so that our light will shine more brightly as the darkness around us grows.

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan.