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There are two types of grocery store shoppers. One who is in a hurry and simply picks up the first piece of fruit or vegetable you come across. Or someone who studies and inspects each and every detail of said fruit or vegetable to make sure that it is perfect. Without flaw. No brown spots. No mushy dents. No imperfections.
Which one are you?
I must say that I am definitely an inspector! Perfection is what I look for. It’s who I am. I’m a perfectionist so it’s only natural that I would want the same for the produce I buy! You may be the same way. You may recognize that about yourself – or as you are reading this, you are thinking, “Yeah, I do that!”
I noticed this want for perfection in the most interesting way a couple of weekends ago. If you ever get a chance to stop by the LifeSongs table at any event, there are a few things you will typically see. (Unless we are out of it!) Bumper stickers, bracelets, and even some LifeSongs pens. You’d never imagine how much women LOVE pens! Except one single pen. At the Propel Conference, there was one pen that no one wanted – Jasmine and I even tried to give it away! Here is a picture of it:
Here’s the thing about this pen: it writes. It does its job. It has a purpose. But it didn’t look like the others. It’s different. It has a history. One that would be interesting to find out about.
Why is it that this pen was unwanted? Perhaps the need for perfection? Normally, this type of thing wouldn’t be what I’m naturally drawn to. God used this to show me something. Look through your Bible. Was there anyone, besides Jesus, that was perfect? That did EVERYTHING right? Nope.
Rahab was FAR from perfect. Many looked down on her because of lifestyle choices she made. (Were they good choices? No.) But God still chose to use her in a mighty way! (Joshua 2)
She may have looked “different” from those around her, but she still had a purpose. A mighty one. And THE MIGHTY ONE saw past her flaws, her bruises, her sin spots. And HE called her worthy.
You think you have to be perfect to kneel at the cross, surrender and for Jesus to forgive you? Nope. Come as you are. Come with your brown spots, mushy dents and imperfections. Let Jesus make you whole.
“Come, let’s talk this over, says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!”
– Isaiah 1:18 (TLB)