Just a Minute Devotional #48
Do you camouflage your heart?
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26, NIV)
Sometimes, we conceal the deepest part of our hearts behind a mask. We may have been betrayed or hurt. We may be holding a grudge or feeling the weight of guilt. We walk, talk, and act the Christian part to hide our innermost feelings. We put on our best behavior for the world to see because we know, deep down, people would not like the real person we are inside. We begin to question,
“Could a holy God love the nasty, real me?”
The Bible clearly states that God’s thoughts and ways are much higher than ours. It also states that God is love. So, don’t believe the lie that He can’t love the real you, even all the ugly parts.
We can try to hide behind camouflage, but God knows our true identity; however, this does not affect His love for us. God’s perfect love for us is unconditional.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24, NLV)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8, NLV)
Did you notice? God did this when we were wading deep in the manure of sin. We can try to hide behind a camouflage suit of religion, rebellion, comedic actions, or a tough exterior, but He can still smell the manure. He doesn’t step back, hold His nose, and offer us an outstretched hand.
Some may say, “You at least must reach up and grab His hand.” But what if even your hands are weighted so you cannot lift them? Because of God’s great love for us, He climbs down into the stench alongside us. He stretches out His arms of love and wraps them around us.
We don’t have to step out of the cesspool; He lifts us out.
It’s not what we do; it’s what He does. He removes our camouflaged armor to rid us of guilt. He opens up our painful secrets. He plucks out the hurts, dashed dreams, envy, and hopelessness. He removes the debris from us so we can finally view His kind eyes and hear His loving voice say, “All is forgiven. You were always mine; it’s just that you didn’t know it. I never left you. Welcome home, my child.”
We can fool people with our camouflaged facade. However, God sees our unpleasant realities and still desires a relationship with us. His unconditional gift of grace has your name on it, and it’s signed: Love Always, Your Papa.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am tired of hiding. I need help. Amen
