the perfect lamb, the great I Am.

I had this thought just now about ministry. When I moved back here I had a hard time with people seeing who I was. Or rather I was concerned with who they saw me as. I didn't want to be seen as a hypocrite. I didn't want to be seen as judgemental. I didn't want to be seen as the person who fell, who was scarred. I wanted to be in a perfect place before presenting myself as anything.
So the thought is, that if we start to think that we can't be used of God unless we are perfect, we might as well go back to daily sacrifice. Do you think that the Israelites doubted that they were a people of God? I would think that they just knew it. They shared in and with each other and knew that God was theirs. That they were his. They sacrificed for atonement, but I think it was part of life and not a precursor to living. Here is the picture I had in my mind then.....

Of a line-up in a field. A place close enough to the tents of the people. Imagine a medieval sort of picture show. People gathering. Laughing, talking, children running and playing. Big families. Joyful celebrations. And then a not too far off line of people. Everyone knows these people; they are family and friends. They are silent and walking singly. Alone in their thoughts. They cannot be ministers. They cannot share in the joy. They aren't perfect yet. They have to make a sacrifice. And then they say to themselves, "I am not a part of this people. I am separate."
The people then start to talk as well.... in whispers at first, and then blatantly, "They cannot be part of us. They have to make a sacrifice. They screwed up. Look at him even! By the end of the week he won't have a flock left, he is so screwed up."
But in all the talk. In all the self-condemnation, they are still simply Israelites. They are part of the people. They are just like the rest. Just taking their turn to humble themselves before they turn back to the community. The separating for a moment is actually a good thing. The showing your sin in the line is the place where nothing is hidden and you get to be free again. No whispering with the others. No blaming. After that sacrifice as you walk back to the fold, you are in a purest of heart. Humbled to start new. Open to be used differently. More understanding of the ones walking the opposite way past you to the line-up of woes. The big picture being clearer.

Romans 3:21-26~ But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented himself as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

So here's another thought for the New Year- Let's start where we are at. God starts where we are at. Let us be ministers. Let us not wait to be sent out into "missions." Let us not wait to talk to strangers whose lives we can't continue speaking into. Let us get up everyday like you would under the covering of a missions trip- seeking God for the day. Why do we seek out poor strangers only? And this is still important, but look around- I am sure there is someone poor in spirit. Or someone who is walking back from that humble place with a huge testimony. Or someone scared to show their line-up worthy sins. Be the encourager. The minister of the gospel. The love out loud. Be the one ready to be used. Be the uplifter. The one who draws people in with compassion. The one who knows they will have another turn in the line. Israelite to the core- but indwelt with the Holy Spirit.