12/15/2023
My Messy HeartIf you’ve been around my page for any time at all, you know I wear my heart on my sleeve. At times I’m a big cry baby, fighting back the tears. When I’m happy. Tears. When I’m hurt, tears. When I’m filled with compassion for all the hurting hearts at Christmas. Tears. That’s me. Angry tears. Sad tears. Laughing tears. Messy tears. Quite often it’s the messy tears that get me. I feel shame or embarrassment for the messy tears.
And that led me to these words… Last Sunday morning our church congregation sang the words to that sweet lullaby~ “Away In A Manger”. As I played the piano, I thought about the words that were sung, and pondered on it all week. “The little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.”… As I thought about the Glory of all mankind being born, the perfect Son of God, I wondered if the words to that sweet lullaby held true. I came to the conclusion that little baby Jesus probably cried. And as He grew, I’m sure He probably cried when He was sad. He probably cried when He was hurt. He probably cried when He had compassion on others… Jesus was 100% God, and 100% human. Scripture doesn’t tell us much about his infancy and youth, but it does tell us that He wept. That He was moved with compassion. That He was human. Just like us, except for one major fact. The fact that changed the course of history, and the eternal destination of all mankind. He was sinless. Our sinless sacrifice. As much as we long for a beautiful manger scene to display in our minds eye, I am sure it was filthy, messy and very far from perfect. But Jesus entered into that mess and the moment He entered in~ He delivered us all. And in all His beauty and glory, He stooped down and picked us all up and showed us that He understood~ and continues to understand~ what it is to be human. With all our messes. With all our emotions. The Old Testament is full of stories of women just like you and me. Women who seemed to mess things up time and time again, yet women God used for His glory. Women God has continued to use to help encourage us today. Although God used several women in the New Testament as well, not as much detail is given. I wonder if it’s because the Old Testament concludes, and Glory steps in. Jesus becomes our focus. Rituals cease. Mankind’s righteousness was as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6. The laws of the Old Testament made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better Hope did. Hebrews 7:19. Jesus is born. He becomes a tiny infant. His little cries echo through the night, and into our hearts. And 33 years later, as He takes on the sins of all mankind on the cross, His cries echo again. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I am so thankful that Jesus understands. That He was human. That He wept. That He felt all the feelings that I feel. I’m so thankful that God so loved the world. I’m so thankful for His words that encourage us that we can be used of Him, with all our imperfections and messes~ all because of Jesus. Jesus could have been born anywhere, but He chose a messy manger. Just like He chose my messy heart. And that reminds me of the words to another familiar hymn~ “Have You Any Room For Jesus?” Won’t you invite Jesus into your mess today? Won’t you ask Him to be your Savior? There is no one that loves you more than He does. No one that went to such lengths for that love. No one that can forgive and give you new life. What a gift. And if you have received that gift, let me remind you of this~ There is no one that understands like Jesus. When my heart is broken and the tears flow, I can hear His tiny cry in the manger. When sadness engulfs me, I remember He is filled with compassion for me, and when I feel unworthy, I hear His cry that rang out through all eternity~”Father forgive them.” What beautiful thoughts to ponder this Christmas season. Let the messy tears flow. Jesus keeps them all in His bottle. One day He will wipe them all away, and the joy of Christmas will be our everlasting reality. SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 53:2-6 Isaiah 54:10 Isaiah 55:6-7 Hebrews 4:15-16 Romans 10:2-4, 9-11, 13 Isaiah 50:10 Psalm 72:12-13 John 1:14 Hebrews 2:17-18 John 11:33, 35-36 Philippians 2:5-11 Psalm 56:8 Psalm 126:5 Revelation 7:17 Revelation 21:4 |
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