Living Forward
When Eli was little and learning to write, he wrote all of his letters backwards. Everything about them was backwards. Not only were the letters backwards, but he also wrote them from right to left. Even his name went in reverse. No one had shown him to write that way. That’s just what felt natural to him. He was so proud of himself for writing his letters all the way to Z, and I have to admit, it takes some skill to write backwards like that! But, as cute as his little boy ways were, he eventually had to be redirected towards the correct way to write.
I’ve gotten it backwards in life too, especially in my walk with Christ. Things that once felt so natural, I’m now understanding is like eating raw hamburger meat; just because something is all natural doesn’t mean it’s good! Hello salmonella. One of the ways I’ve gotten it backwards is believing that I have to earn Jesus’ acceptance. As if there are standards that I’m not good enough for, but if that were true, the cross would be obsolete. He accepts us just as we are, all we have to do is believe it and walk in the freedom it provides, then follow in his example of love, grace, and forgiveness.
Recently, when reading John 3:16 again, yes, we all know it by heart but every time we read His Word, a different piece pops out. Kinda like watching a Pixar movie over and over; you see something new each time you watch it. Let’s recite the verse together… For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Here’s what I recently noticed: it doesn’t say, whoever loses their strength in striving, or whoever hardens their heart hustling, or whoever misplaces their peace proving. Instead, it applies that everyone may come up short in the worlds eye, but we have always been the apple of His eye.
This kind of reverse living only takes my focus off Jesus and plants it solely on myself. Always asking, am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Am I funny enough? Am I strong enough? Am I doing enough? Am I talented enough? Am I enough? Whatever the “am I” question may be, it’s backward from how the great “I Am” meant for us to live.
If you look 14 verses later in chapter 3, John the Baptist declares…He must increase, but I must decrease. So, I’m going to do my best to chill out a bit more and just believe. Leaving the pressure of perfection on the back roads, so I can start living forward in his unconditional love.