The holidays have come and gone. And one thing I started hearing from the mouths of children New Year's Day and continue to hear in the classroom is this, "I'm not tired." Adults look into those droopy eyes, see irritation flare and know that, regardless of what they say, the facts are the facts: tired children need rest. To say, "You're tired," only brings an argument. There is no remedy but sleep.
It struck me that many of us approach our spiritual lives the same way, only it sounds like this, "I'm not a sinner." But the facts are the facts. Broken relationships, unfulfilled commitments, and stinky attitudes cause us to point the finger and say, "You're a sinner," but there are not exceptions. And there is no remedy but Jesus.
But day after day, when I'm honest with myself, I see the sin: brusque words, impatience, thoughtlessness, selfishness. And that's when I'm learning to look for Jesus. A tired child doesn't look for a bed until he's desperate. A sinner doesn't look for relief until he's desperate. And my prayer for this year is that I will look to Jesus apart from desperation; that He will remind me and draw me and satisfy me based on the facts: that He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Today, as I look into those little faces during rest time in the pre-kindergarten class and see them rolled up in their blankets on the floor, may my heart echo, "I'm a sinner...who has a great Savior."
It struck me that many of us approach our spiritual lives the same way, only it sounds like this, "I'm not a sinner." But the facts are the facts. Broken relationships, unfulfilled commitments, and stinky attitudes cause us to point the finger and say, "You're a sinner," but there are not exceptions. And there is no remedy but Jesus.
But day after day, when I'm honest with myself, I see the sin: brusque words, impatience, thoughtlessness, selfishness. And that's when I'm learning to look for Jesus. A tired child doesn't look for a bed until he's desperate. A sinner doesn't look for relief until he's desperate. And my prayer for this year is that I will look to Jesus apart from desperation; that He will remind me and draw me and satisfy me based on the facts: that He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Today, as I look into those little faces during rest time in the pre-kindergarten class and see them rolled up in their blankets on the floor, may my heart echo, "I'm a sinner...who has a great Savior."
What a great article. Thanks for sharing Sydney!
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