No Finger Left To Point
Romans 8:31-35 (NLT)—
‘What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honour at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?’
Growing up I was terrified of God. I had this incessant feeling, not that he was angry with me - no, far worse… he was disappointed. He was shaking his head sadly: 'Ah not again, Tim.' My prayer patterns and habitual sins shaped my relationship with God .
Are there people, if you're honest, you’re reluctant to meet with? You know it's going to be two hours of their problems and they won’t ever ask how you’re doing. That’s how I used to pray to God: I would only ever complain and grovel and beg for forgiveness. I think this was the lens through which I looked at God. I offered my negativity and felt he was sitting reluctantly with me at the prayer table. I would apologise for taking up his time, wait for him to say, 'That’s ok' and then go about my business - and repeat the process next day.
One day I sat on Hammersmith Bridge praying, doing my usual apologetic prayer ritual and as I read Romans 8 God spoke to me: 'You’ve got me all wrong, you’ve misunderstood my heart.' I saw in this passage that Paul, confronted with sin but armed with the glory of the gospel, was breaking down the accusations that stand against us.
Why would God still be angry and disappointed with us? God himself won’t accuse us because he gave his Son the authority to judge sinners. So does Jesus accuse us? No! He’s the one who gave up his life as a sacrifice for our sin so that we might no longer be 'guilty'. The only accusers standing are the devil and me. Devil has been defeated so how could I dare not accept God’s truth that through Jesus I am forgiven and nothing can separate me from his love? Now my prayers begin with thankfulness.
Prayer - Thank you Father that I have no accusers left. Thank you, Jesus for redeeming me. Come Holy Spirit and remind my heart of the love of the Father (Rom 5:5).