The gospel is this, in the words of author and pastor Tim Keller, “…we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared to believe, and at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.
This is the only kind of relationship that will really transform us. Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it. God’s saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us. The merciful commitment strengthens us to see the truth about ourselves and repent. The conviction and repentance moves us to cling to and rest in God’s mercy and grace.”
We can’t ever forget the gospel. In the midst of the yelling, brain-damaged 8-year-old, the dinner boiled over and pouring down the cabinets, the broken clothes dryer, the car that leaves us stranded on the side of the freeway (again), we must never, never, never lose sight of the fact that we are cared for by the God who gives us the only hope we can ever rely upon.
He doesn’t look at you and see stressed-out mom. He doesn’t look at you and see failed marriage. He doesn’t look at you and see a girl who’s really bad at math. He doesn’t look at you and see a failure who once again couldn’t get dinner on the table in time.
He sees Jesus. He defines you by Jesus.
Jesus. Jesus, who lived a perfect life. I have not lived a perfect life, and there are nine people who live in my house who will testify that I have not lived a perfect hour. But my Jesus — He lived a perfect life, and when God looks at me, He sees Jesus.
And when He looks at you — cowering, defeated, lonely, out of control, controlling, mouthy, sinful, needy — He sees Jesus.
It will always serve us well to remember Whose we are and what He’s done for us. Instead of us, He has placed Jesus over, around, in, and under, to cover and to answer and to be everything we cannot and are not.
That’s the good news. That’s the gospel, and it is our hope.
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This article originally appeared at TriciaGoyer.com, published with permission.
