14 Oct 2016
Sometimes the idea of redemption is just not that
appealing. Sometimes it can be a little
intimidating. After all, a consequence
of being “blessed and chosen in Christ, and sealed with the Holy Spirit” is
that “there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that
will not be known.” And imagine there
are some parts of us—things we’ve said or done—that we’d rather not be known.
And so, as wonderful as the gift of the Holy Spirit is, the
redemption he brings has a price; and the price is: transparency,
vulnerability, and brutal honest with ourselves and God. And that’s not always appealing.
On the other hand, I’ve heard stories of people with
addictions, or people who’ve committed crimes and kept them secret for decades,
who were “found out.” And being “found
out” and brought to “the light” was a moment of freedom for them. Being caught was a redeeming grace from God,
because they themselves didn’t have the strength to make known what needed to
be made known. And it needed to be
revealed . . . for their own good, for their own happiness and well-being.
Now, our life situations may not be like that, but still, we
might find it hard to be honest with God about things we need to be honest
about. And it’s then that we call upon
the Holy Spirit—knowing that we’re asking him to help us be . . . vulnerable,
transparent, and brutally honest with God—all those things that are
uncomfortable for us to be.
But, then again, it’s good to remember who we’re asked to be
honest with: God. And about him Jesus
says very simply, “Do not be afraid.” We
aren’t “blessed and chosen in Christ” to be pummeled. We’re blessed and chosen . . . to be made
whole again, to live with integrity, to be fully alive and free. And so we pray with the psalmist today, “Blessed
the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.”
How lucky are those who are chosen to pay the price of redemption.
No comments:
Post a Comment