IMO: You Should Just Give Up - Wednesday
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (NIV)
I’m writing this over a cup of java at Starbucks, eavesdropping on a conversation between a coach and student athlete. The young lady is devastated by a recent loss, and her coach keeps telling her to “shake it off and go on.” My unpredictable mind drifts to the Taylor Swift song with the same name that sold over five million digital copies… but I digress.
“Shaking it off” is obviously easier said than done, and it's much more a choice than a feeling. A guy named Paul understood that. A former persecutor of Christians, he became the greatest evangelist of all time, but toward the end of his life, he called himself the “chief of sinners.” We’d be wrong to explain that away. I’m guessing Paul meant what he said—no hyperbole whatsoever. To be “chief” means to rank above all others, but from Paul’s perspective, he meant, “I’m just the worst.”
If you’re like me, you feel that way sometimes. Most people don’t see the real “us,” do they? We invest a ton in our “pretend-self.” I’m glad Paul freely admitted it. I'm also glad he learned to shake it off, refusing to crawl under a rock of shame and go away. What made that possible? One word: Grace. You see, understanding and owning grace changes everything. It’s the great eraser of our worst failures. It’s what enables us to move beyond our worst selves—our “chief of sinners” self. Indeed, we’re effectively nothing without grace.
Hey, I’ve got good news! God doesn’t keep a blacklist with your name in it. The Cross cancels the penalty for all sin. Grace changes everything. You’re not a loser! You’re just another of us “chief sinners” who found and embraced the amazing grace of God. Hold your head up. Shake off the enemy’s lies, and be proud of what God has done and is doing in your life.
Wednesday’s Reflection
Why not decide today and forever that you’re done with living a life of self-condemnation. It really is your choice, friend—no one else’s. Here’s a few verses to put in your mental toolbox: Romans 8:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Romans 5:1-2; 1 John 2:1-2. Enjoy!
