When we enter the season of Lent, with so much of our focus on repentance as we meditate on the cross, it is important that we do not let our image of God go askew. This 40-day journey is not meant to inspire fear of judgment or cause us to withdraw from an image of God as an angry and vengeful deity, one who is eager to catch us in our sin and make us feel despised. That is not what Lent is about. Lent is always about God’s love, mercy, and grace shown supremely in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Yet there are many who struggle with that false image of God, and not just during Lent. Sometimes when we are face-to-face with the sin in our lives, immersed in the shame of feeling that we have disappointed or even angered God, it can cause us to withdraw. Like a child who is afraid of being punished, we lie about what we’ve done—to others, to ourselves, and we even may think we’ve gotten away with lying about it to God. And as that shame festers in our souls it becomes toxic, which can then further distort our image of God. It whispers horrible lies to us, saying, “You can’t go to God with this. You’ve disappointed him too many times. He has given up on you.” As our image of God becomes distorted, we can grow even more afraid of coming to him openly and honestly. It is a vicious downward spiral, feeding on itself in a frenzy of self-hatred and fear.
In Paul’s letter to Titus there is a wonderful passage that can help ground us if we’re falling into that cycle, where he writes:
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
—Titus 3:4-7 (NIV)
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…
The salvation of God is rooted in kindness and love, because God is love. Even as he hung on the cross, Jesus asked God to forgive those who had tortured him and put him there. If there was ever a picture of the “tender mercy” of God, you’ll find it there.
As you travel to Jerusalem with Jesus, be sure to follow his heart as well as his footsteps, for his heart is filled with love for you. As one anonymous 19th century preacher put it, he is “the fountain of all gentleness, all kindness, and all good.”
All gentleness…all kindness…all good…this is the one who invites you to walk with him.
For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus, strong and kind
Read the rest of the lyrics here.
Questions for Reflection
1) Have you ever had to wrestle with a distorted image of God? What was at the root of that distortion? Spend some time in prayer asking God to clear away any image you have that is not true to who he is.
2) Did you notice the interesting reversal that takes place in the final verse of this song? For three verses we are told that if we are thirsty, weak, or fearful, we should come to Jesus. Then in the final verse we’re reminded that when we are lost, He comes to us: “He showed me on the cross He will come to me.” Spend some time reflecting on these two invitations, to come and to receive, and let them stir you to prayer.
3) Read and reflect on these verses. Let them lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
—Ephesians 2:4-7 (NIV)