I love to kiss!
In fact I love to kiss so much that I practice all day long... with myself.
I practice pressing my lips up against my own lips.
I tilt my head to the left and then to the right in an ongoing effort to be versatile and flexible in my approach.
One of the awesome things about kissing myself is that I don't have to lean over or stand on my tip toes. I am just the right height.
I kiss myself in the morning. I kiss myself when I tuck myself in bed at night. Sometimes when I fall down I kiss my "boo boo" and that makes everything "all right!"
If you haven't mastered this art of kissing yourself, you are really missing out!!
In fact, as I am writing this blog I am kissing myself!
My iWitness...
Have you heard anything more ridiculous than what you just read!!
I can't kiss myself.
The joy, the art and the fun of kissing always involves someone else.
It's a relational act!
Listen here...
Listen closely...
Read these incredible words from the Bible about "forgiving yourself"...
Did you see them?
Read them again...
Still didn't see them?
They are not there!
They don't exist!
Forgiving yourself is like kissing yourself!
You can't do it! It's impossible!
And the people who tell you that you can and that you should and that you better... I have two words for them...
"Kiss off!"
Forgiveness is a relational act! The Bible always talks about forgiveness in relation to someone else or in relation to me and God.
Where do we get this idea that we can or should forgive ourselves?
I wish I knew...
This notion of "forgiving myself" has debilitated people, causing depression, despair and despondency.
We have all done something "out of character."
We have all over stepped our bounds.
We have all said, "I can't believe I did that."
We have all sinned in proportion greater than we thought personally possible.
So... what's the real issue?
Twofold response here...
1. We think of ourselves better than we are.
2. We think God is not as great and powerful as He really is.
I am a sinner. Nothing more and nothing less. I fall short everyday. The standards that God has set before me are too high for me to jump over. I am no longer surprised when I stumble, trip, fall and sometimes outright disobey. This is my nature...
That's part one...
Now hear part two... You don't want to miss this...In fact you just might have trouble believing it.
You cannot forgive yourself.
But... and this just might be the largest "but" you have ever seen or experienced...
But...through Jesus' perfect sacrifice on the cross God can, God does, God will, and God has.
Now here comes the real question of the day...
"Will I accept His forgiveness?"
It's ridiculous isn't it?
Scandalous Grace is what rocks our logical, "get even", justice oriented mindset.
The Prodigal Son went off to the far country and he saw all of us there. We know what the far country smells like and tastes like.
But the Prodigal Son came back and the Father wrapped his arms around him, put the best robe around his shoulders, put the best sandals on his feet and threw the best party...
You know what else the Father did to the Prodigal Son...?
He kissed him!
And so the Father waits to kiss you.
To forgive you.
To set you free from this delusion of being able to forgive yourself.
The band is doing its sound check.
The food is on the banquet table.
The people are gathered.
The streamers have been strung.
The banner that proclaims "Welcome Home! has been hung.
The balloons are tethered.
The drinks have been poured.
The party is ready to get started.
It's just missing one person... You.
Receive and accept the amazing kiss of grace and step across the threshold...
You are forgiven...
Put on your dancing shoes,
It's time to party!
I can't wait to get out on the dance floor with you!
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1. 9)
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