Exposed

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” -Luke 5:32

Winter has a way of exposing the world without its covering. As I look out my windows today at the barren trees, I see what existed beneath the foliage—nests that were crafted so sneakily from predators, branches hanging on by a thread, scars in the bark, vines wrapping the trunk, and parts of the tree that appear to have died since last year. The exposure of the tree tells a story.

Where are you today with God?

Are you like Adam and Eve in the garden, reaching for a fig leaf to hide your sin and shortcomings? It’s always been so very human (sinful) and, quite honestly, a little ironic to me that the first thing they did was assume God had not seen their sin from the start. I mean, come on… this is God. He made you, for goodness sake. He is omniscient. And yet they reached for the fig leaf to cover themselves—to hide their sinful nature.

How often do we do the same?

Maybe it’s not a fig leaf you’re reaching for. Maybe it’s a vice, or a distraction, or simply a rationalization for what you know to be… wrong.

I don’t like to be told that I’m wrong. Who does?! Honestly, me asking you to reflect on your own sin—suggesting that it is wrong—may be rubbing you the wrong way. I get it. But we have to be exposed before we can be healed. God can’t heal what we refuse to bring into the light, my friend.

If you reveal those hidden nests, dead branches, and tightly wrapped vines to God, He will forgive and redeem what feels dead in you. For “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight…” (Hebrews 4:13) and “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).

Jesus wants your sin because He loves you. Don’t confuse Jesus with the world—where, when you confess your sins, people may judge, retaliate, or abandon you. Jesus is not of this world. He marches to a tune you and I have never heard on this side of heaven. So let the world judge. Let them retaliate.

Your Father in heaven will meet you with grace, love, and mercy as you drop your backpack of nests, dead branches, and vines at the foot of the cross.

Let yourself be exposed today to the very One who sees your every move—and loves you just the same. Stop stitching your fig leaves. You’re safe with Jesus.

Reflection: If you stopped performing and got honest with God today, remembering that He is nothing like the people of this world, what would you say first?