Day 29: No Condemnation
- Joni
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Do you shy from being VULNERABLE?
Because what if you SHOW UP as your REAL VULNERABLE self?
What will THEY say?
What will THEY think?
What will THEY do?
Is it worth the RISK of being VULNERABLE?
VULNERABILITY means
"the quality of being easily hurt or attacked, or the state of being open to injury" (Oxford Dictionary).
Who is your THEY?
There was a time when my
THEY was actually GOD. I was afraid to be VULNERABLE with HIM.
I BELIEVED that if I was VULNERABLE with GOD,
HE would CONDEMN me,
YIKES!
So I tried to AVOID GOD.
Pretty funny, when you think about it,
because you can't AVOID GOD,
because wherever you are
HE is there.
Just ask ADAM and EVE as they tried to hide behind a fig leaf.
And GOD still came looking for them.
Why do I now LOVE being VULNERABLE with GOD?
Because I finally understood what happened when
HIS SON covered me with HIMSELF~
"For there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are IN CHRIST".*
For NO means NO.
NO CONDEMNATION!
For GOD will not leave you or forsake you!
And suddenly I think about CHRISTMAS.
Because CHRISTMAS is GOD coming to us.
Not because we had everything together.
Not because we were perfect.
Not because we had cleaned ourselves up enough for HIM to come.
HE came right into our brokenness.
THE BABY in the manger was proof that GOD wasn't running away from us.
HE WAS COMING FOR US.
"For GOD did not send HIS SON into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through HIM " (John 3:17).
Oh, what a
CHRISTMAS IN JULY TRUTH!
JESUS didn't come to CONDEMN you.
HE came to SAVE you.
And because of JESUS,
VULNERABILITY with GOD
has become a
SWEET SPOT OF FAITH for me.
When I SHOW UP with my morning brew to have a date with GOD,
I come as I am.
I am quite VULNERABLE,
but a good VULNERABLE
as I open my heart and mind to HIM,
and give HIM free reign.
I don't have to be afraid of what HE will find,
because HE already knows.
And GOD IS GOOD.
That doesn't mean everything HE allows will always feel GOOD.
But it means HE can be TRUSTED to work even the difficult things
for my GOOD and HIS GLORY.
And GOD doesn't leave me where HE finds me.
The HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS me.
And I have learned there is a huge difference
between CONDEMNATION and CONVICTION.
CONDEMNATION says,
"There is no hope for you."
CONVICTION says,
"Come closer. I have something better for you."
Condemnation pushes you away from GOD.
CONVICTION draws you toward HIM.
VULNERABILITY—GOOD.
CONVICTION—GOOD.
CONDEMNATION—GONE.
All because of JESUS CHRIST.
CONVICTION is one of GOD'S GRACIOUS ways
of leading you along HIS path.
A path covered with
FORGIVENESS,
PEACE,
HOPE,
JOY
and
LOVE~
all made possible through HIS SON.
So will you take the next 60 SECONDS
and SHOW UP before GOD as your VULNERABLE self?
No mask.
No hiding.
No pretending.
Simply pray:
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
It doesn't it sound so inviting if you are asking your enemy to
search your heart, mind, and soul and give it to you straight, does it?
But oh when you come before
GOD and lay yourself bare,
it is the most beautiful place to be,
as GOD gently guides you deeper into
HIS HEART
to GUIDE you,
to COMFORT you,
to HEAL you,
to FORGIVE you,
and
to LOVE you
like you never have been LOVED before.
And why?
"FOR THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION IN THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS"
*(Romans 8:1).
So what are you going to in the next 60 SECONDS?
Don't put it off.
TICK, TICK, TICK,
because
GOD is waiting for you with NO CONDEMNATION.
Therefore,
have a CHRISTMAS OF THE HEART
and
"COME TO JESUS"
(listen to the song below)
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