As Is

Did you know that we all have a big red tag attached to us that reads “As Is”

Jesus bought and paid for us, through his sacrifice on the cross even tho we were cast into the discarded, broken, used, returned, and slightly damaged pile!

He doesn’t see the cracks. He doesn’t see the stitches that barely hold us together. He doesn’t see the smudge and smears of life’s dirt that has left its dull stain. He doesn’t see the tangled mass of nerves or the knots of fears.

He’s not waiting for us to clean up our language. He’s not waiting for us to lose those extra pounds. He’s not waiting for us to clean our house, our car, or our life. He’s not waiting for the perfect moment for us to grow up!

He loves us right now, just as we are: tired, sad, overworked, underpaid, depressed, lost, lonely, scared, hurting, confused, addicted, and afflicted!

Romans 5:8 ESV “But God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

This scripture is such a valuable gem!

First, don’t look at his appearance or stature! Jesus, sees us the same, with the same love whether we are beautiful or disfigured; tall or short; thin or round; blue-collar vs. CEO.

Second, God does not focus on what man focuses on! We judge and are judged by our behaviors, our social status, possibly our name, our connections and our appearance.

But God looks on the heart!

Is your heart striving moment by moment to align with God? He sees your true love and effort!

Are you truly repentant when you drop the ball, AGAIN? He sees your true love and effort.

Are you looking at yourself through the eyes of the world or God’s eyes?

Psalm 34:15 ESV “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.”

We must remember we are made righteous through Jesus! Not, ever by our works, deeds, giving, offering, sacrificing, etc.

John 3:16 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Acts 10:34 ESV “So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that Gods shows no partiality.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

So, maybe the next time you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, pray about it and ask God to reveal what is going on inside that’s being reflected on the outside, or try remembering that we are all a work in progress until the day he comes to get us!

He loves us “as is” but too much to leave us that way. ☺️

Be blessed! ☀️❤️