He Came to Save
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
Yesterday, we reflected on the challenges of comparison - let’s just say that condemnation and comparison regularly go out for drinks after work and huddle together during lunch. Here’s the thing - when we compare ourselves to others, we’re either judging ourselves or another person. We’re stack-ranking people - complex people with complex problems, complex lives, and complex hearts.
Sisters, if God didn’t send Jesus to condemn anyone, why, oh why, would that be my job? What makes me confident that I have the right to condemn another? It’s dicey. On one hand, my heart breaks that this ever occurs within me, and on the other, the hardened places of my heart automatically cast judgment.
Condemnation doesn’t just mean crucifixion.
I’ll be really honest with my failings to break this down for you. For me, condemning others often means saying (yelling) mean names (profanities) at drivers who cut me off on the interstate. It means, calling a mysterious shopper “stupid” under my breath because they left a shopping cart in the middle of a parking space. It means rolling my eyes at a text message that feels like the start of a pity party.
Just because I condemn others in little ways, doesn’t mean that I’m not condemning them. Sisters, we are meant to be like Jesus, which means we’re meant to bring life to others. Jesus didn’t come to condemn, He came to save. I want to partner in that mission. I don’t want to be someone who is angry about shopping carts; I want to be someone who assumes the best and extends mercy for the worst. I want to be a person who partners with Jesus’ mission to bring life. I want to partner with Jesus to save.
Father,
Thank You for coming with mercy and compassion. Thank You for teaching us a new way. Thank You for choosing to save us instead of condemn us.
Teach us how to be like You. Teach us how to extend mercy and kindness instead of condemnation and judgement. Show us Your ways.
God, we love You. Show us how to love like You do. Amen.