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Bloom

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

In the book of Nehemiah, God chose people to rebuild the ruined city He lived in at the time. How could they stay motivated to keep on working in crumbled remains? Well, they knew even then that God loved its gates. They knew, while staring at debris-strewn ground, that God already loved it. The city was far from completed, but the heart of God was for it. “Look at that tip,” the naysayers cried, “It’s not even a thing, just a bunch of bricks in a pile!” “Oh, yes,” said God, “I do love that wall.”

The love God has for a spotless individual is on you today, because of Jesus. When we feel guilt in our Christian life from lack of progress, or some glaring character failure, we can find ourselves thinking, “God can’t love me yet. Not, like, ‘love me’ love me.”

There is frustrating sin clogging up our holiness. There are gates and walls still unbuilt in our lives. And yet, the proud smile of a Creator on His finished creation is on you. You are bathed in the presence of Christ. There is room to grow in, an expansive space of God’s acceptance. Maybe it’s not only about ‘pressing on,’ but also about rejoicing, flowering, blooming… into the whole and holy person He’s said you are.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing me for what YOU make me and not what I see me as. In Jesus’ Name, Amen