despicable… me?
Despicable Jeff
NEWS FLASH: There are no original ideas. Despicable Me was a 2010 animated film featuring super villain Gru and his minions. Through the lives of three orphan girls, Gru's heart grows much like the Grinch’s, to the point where he finds love and turns from being... Despicable. So Gru was despicable until love changed him forever. Well, I am very Gru-like. Let me try to explain.
I often share this as a qualifier of my life. I AM A PRETTY GOOD GUY— no murders or bank robberies. I do not belong to any gang, and I have not been featured on Dateline in a double murder mystery where my wife and dog mysteriously disappeared, and foul play is suspected of ME… DESPICABLE ME.
But… Looking back over my life, there are times God's Spirit reveals my lifelong sinful nature, and it disturbs me. So many secret sins, compromises big & small, and selfish actions that, looking back, I ponder,
‘Was I ever really saved?'
And looking forward, why do I believe I will go to Heaven? Daily, I seek the Lord, but am burdened by selfish, lazy, and anxious thoughts. How can this existence of mine assure me that I receive God's Grace?
But there is an answer. GOD'S AMAZING GRACE covers all my known and secret sins. To be WASHED IN THE BLOOD, and forgiven through the RESURRECTION of Jesus 2000 years ago. Yes, while earthly thinking is so underserved, but this is how AMAZING His Grace & Forgiveness are.
Note: washed in Jesus’ blood is more than church speak.. There is true power in the shedding of His blood. Blood symbolizes LIFE.
"Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" were the words of Jesus while hanging on the cross after hours of beatings and as the crowd mocked Him. This was God's Amazing Grace, forgiveness for sinful men that day, and a promise for despicable men like me.
So with this promise, I daily turn to Him, repenting of my sins while seeking His will to be done. My despicable sins, big & small, with attitudes compromised by self and ignorance, are forgiven. By this, despicable Jeff receives God's Amazing Grace, and the burden of my fallen ways is lifted from me.
This is the promise for any of you who feel despicable. I pray for each of us to pursue this relationship with our creator daily and realize the greatness of His love. The pursuit of having our hearts and actions right with God… this is where we find PEACE.
Blessings
Jeff (moderately despicable) Larson
