Mistakes have a way of staying with us long after we’ve moved on. Time and maturity can shed light on past transgressions. Things we’ve said or didn’t say, things we did or didn’t do, surface to haunt us. Perhaps we’ve all been there. Guilt and shame creep into our consciousness, shouting “Unlovable” and “Unforgivable,” and leave us feeling unworthy. But a life-changing makeover awaits us.
Consider some familiar individuals. Moses and David were murderers. Paul persecuted the church. Peter denied Jesus. Rahab was a prostitute. And the list goes on. But God did not declare them unworthy or unforgivable. Just the opposite, in fact. He changed their hearts and set them on a new path. Moses and David became leaders of Israel, Paul and Peter led the new church, and Rahab helped the Israelites and became a mother in the lineage of Jesus.
God never leaves us as we are. He sanctifies us, makes us holy, and sets us apart for His special purposes. God invites us on a transformational, continuous, heart-changing journey to create a life-changing makeover. We are being made new … different … better. He declares us worthy, loved, and forgiven.
Paul desired that God sanctify believers through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This is sanctification—Jesus working in our lives to make us a fruit-of-the-spirit person on a mission for the kingdom.
Shout out a celebratory “Woohoo” and “Praise the Lord” because of God’s mercy and grace.
Suzie Smith is a Christ follower, wife, mother, grandmother, retired educator, and sports fan. She lives with her husband, Chris, in Bixby, Oklahoma, and attends Crossroads Fellowship Church. Her goal is to continue to grow and serve in this newfound freedom of retirement and share experiences with those she loves. You can find her blogging at Reflections of Hope: Experiencing God’s Goodness.