Three years ago, I sat at a red light at the end of a highway off ramp. Due to a traffic jam, I took this exit instead of my usual one. As my eyes settled on the building across the street, I asked, “Why today?” This building reminded me of a time I would rather forget.
I remembered a recent talk regarding a nameless woman in Luke 7. With no name given, she is known only as a sinner. Hearing that Jesus was in town, she was determined to get to him. She pushed through any shame she might have felt, not letting the Pharisees intimidate her because of her reputation. When she reached the Messiah, she washed his feet with her tears, and used expensive oil to anoint him. She wanted Jesus, and nothing was going to get in her way.
Waiting for a green light, I pictured this woman and her bravery. I related to how she must have felt walking through all the shame and judgment she and the Pharisees had put upon her. I imagined the joy she experienced when she finally sat at the feet of the one who accepted her, and forgave ALL her sins.
As I drove away, I thought about the incident from long ago that led to my youngest son and myself visiting that building every Wednesday night for months. I remembered how the shame I felt kept me from the love of the Lord and fellowship with loving women who would have gladly walked beside me, without judgment.
21 years ago I let shame stand between me and Jesus. I hung my head and stayed away from Him. I am so grateful He never let go and I have been healed.
When we walk out of our sin and into his redemptive presence, the Lord wants us to leave regret at the door. He wants us to let nothing get in the way of reaching Him. He desires to fill us with his wisdom and shower us with His Love.
Sitting at that stoplight, which seemed exceptionally long that night, I remembered in Genesis 3:55, God told Jacob to arise and go to Bethel and make an altar to Him. The purpose of this altar would be for Jacob and the people to remember in their time of need, and still remained with them.
God did not leave Jacob when he made wrong decisions. He will not leave us either. He wants us to build altars, to remember what He has brought us out of. To remind us that we can always choose to turn back to Him. Just as He had Jacob return to where he lost his way.
The woman called a sinner, let go of what was behind, and gave her All to Jesus. She loved Him with her whole heart, soul and strength. When we do the same, we find ourselves sitting at his feet just as she did.
God does not leave us nor forsake us. He remains true and constant. Think about the times that he has stayed by your side, make altars of those times so that you can remember and so you can pass on his legacy. Today we might not make physical altars, but we can surely write these things down or record them into audio files so that we can leave them for those who come after us.
Why that day? To remind me, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.
Blessings,
Janice S.