“Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:31-32
God’s encouragement…
I embarrassed myself spectacularly in first grade when I didn’t listen to my mom. The elementary school was under construction, so classes were held in houses outfitted with classrooms. The surrounding streets were a sea of mud, and my mom told me to cross on planks placed at a corner. I crossed in front of my cottage instead. I made it across, but my shoes didn’t. They were stuck fast in the mud behind me. I had to pull them out and scrape off as much mud as I could. When I entered my classroom, I wished with all my heart muddy footprints led to every desk. Alas, mine were the only ones.
This is the Gospel at work in childhood. It reminds us Jesus and His Holy Spirit are with us from our earliest days. He loves and teaches us through embarrassing situations when we are prideful about our plans that then go astray. He forgives us when we are sorry we did not listen to our parents. Because Jesus came as our physician, repentance resides in us even as children.
Heavenly Father, help us to treasure in our hearts that shining the light of the Gospel on painful memories redeems them through the healing that Jesus came to give sinners like us.
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Image: original pen and ink by Robin Lybeck: Repentance Treasure
