::thank you, love::

"One of the most transforming forces in our lives is being regarded as better than we are."

- John Piper.

WOW. What a profound, powerful, TRUE thought. And beautiful - incredibly beautiful.

Jesus did this for us. He regarded us as better than we were - as it explains in Romans 5:8:

"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us..."

a loving, beautiful, transforming force in our lives if we choose to accept it.

{How great the love of the Father}

And yet, in many areas of my life, I drop the ball on this idea.

God is moving in my heart and continually bringing me back to release one of the biggest strongholds in my life - pride. Sometimes - and it's in complete, real, raw, ugly honesty that I confess this - I remind myself of a pharisee and the thought makes me sick.

Pharisees don't bring permanent transformation, they bring feelings of shame or rebellion against what they claim to, but falsely represent - God.

I don't want to be that person. I have been that person in the past and I'm clinging to the promise that He makes all things new and I'm trusting that He has done that within my own heart and thoughts.

I want to be someone who loves people into loving love... does that make sense?

The lost, the confused, the angry, the prodigals - I want to love them towards radical change - a love that points them into being and accepting love.

Those redemption stories are my favorite kinds... you've heard them.

The kid who got expelled from five schools, has been in Juvee, is addicted to drugs, has a crappy home life, carries an immense amount of insecurity masked by anger and hate. I LOVE the stories where someone takes THAT kid, LOVES them, believes in them, and essentially regards them as better than they really are.

Then, under that love, the kids start to believe in themselves.

Then they transform.

That's probably why I love the story of 'Les Miserables' so much - that's Jean Valjean's story.

And in so many ways, that's our story.

And that needs to be the story of the people we're blessed enough to live this life with - and we need to play a part in it.

Don't be the person that I fight to not be.

Don't focus so much on "telling it like it is" that you forget to speak in love.

Don't focus so much on their wrongs - but believe the best.

Don't think of yourself in a position of looking down on someone.

You want to be like Christ?

Then DO IT.

LOVE people.

BELIEVE in people when they don't believe in themselves.

THEN you'll see change.

That's what Jesus did in the lives of the slaves, cheaters, whores, liars, thieves while He walked on this earth, and that's what He's continuing to do in hearts that accept Him today.

And that's what I want to do.

I want to love "the ugly" - because love makes ugly, beautiful.

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Currently Listening to: Matt Maher - "Christ is Risen." check it out here.