“If you, God, kept records on wrong doings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that is why you’re worshiped.”
Psalm 130:3-4 MSG
I met a clown once. I know, that’s a weird opening sentence, but it’s true. He was at the mall making balloon animals for the kids. While he contorted a squeaky red one into a dog for my son, I noticed six cryptical letters embroidered on his costume–where a name tag would be.
“IYQ-YQR,” I said, “What does that mean?” “Oh, you don’t speak “clown-lish,” said the red-nosed jester with a smirk. “I…like…you..like…you…are,” he said, pointing at each letter.
My new clown friend was on to something. He must have heard about the guy who said this:
Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.
Theodore Roosevelt
At the risk of comparing the Almighty to both a clown and our 26th president, I believe God agrees.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
Psalm 103:8,10,13
I think we agree, imperfect humans fall far short of God’s holiness (Romans 3:23). And our creator doesn’t grade on the curve. He could flunk us all. Thankfully, there’s a merciful solution for our predicament.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Okay, now I’m preaching. You probably already know these things.
Here’s my somewhat fresh angle:
God likes you like you are.
You don’t have to DO anything to earn his approval. Like that clown at the mall, He just likes you…period.
Squeaky balloon animal, anyone?
