"His loving Lord full tenderly beholdeth him...now with a double manner of Regard: one outward, full meekly and mildly, with great ruth (compassion) and pity,... another inward, more spiritually,... highly rejoicing for the worshipful restoring that He will and shall bring His Servant to by His plenteous grace.."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 51)
What happens when we fall into mistakes or sins? What is God's response? According to the Parable God showed Julian, His response is not blame, anger, condemnation, or in any way pointing out any fault with us. Instead, His response is firstly compassion, feeling for the difficulties we have in this world due to temptation, evil and sin, sorrowing with our every sorrow and hurting with our every hurt. And His response is secondly great rejoicing! Why would He be rejoicing? He rejoices because He knows and focuses on the finished work of His Son and how He has already turned every sin that we fall into and every shame that we feel into restoration, righteousness and honor by His marvelous, abundant grace! He rejoices that His grace trumps sin every single time and has already done away with all sin, guilt, shame and lostness through the work of Christ, which work is already finished. When a work is finished it means we need to add nothing to it. It is simply done and over. Any dealing with sin is already over and done by Christ. That means there is nothing left for us to do about our sin at all! Let's simply respond as God does to our failings and shameful feelings: let's have compassion on ourselves for all that we're going through and let's rejoice at the completed victory of Christ over all sin and shame at the cross where He took away the sin of the world forevermore! Let's not call ourselves sinful or dirty or guilty or bad. Let's call ourselves holy and clean and forgiven and purified because that's what Christ has made us through His finished work! We are not identified with sin but with Christ. We are not full of sin or guilt but full of Christ's righteousness and honor. That's reason to be compassionate with ourselves and every other person here on earth who sometimes fails. And that's reason to be joyful and affirming of ourselves and every person on earth who has been cleansed already and made perfect in the perfect obedience and righteousness of Christ the Savior of the world!
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 1:29 (ESV)
"One good act that Christ did makes all people right with God. And that brings true life for all."
Romans 5:18 (NCV)
"God has shown me that I am not to call any person unholy or unclean."
Acts 10:28 (NASB)
A Prayer: Every time I fail, help me remember Christ already took care of that one and I am still righteous before You by His finished work!