Just As I Am

One of the joys of being a pastor is spending time with our older members. One of my elderly saints loves the old hymns, especially those that focus on God’s loving acceptance of us just as we are. She knows that she’s a flawed human being, like you and me, deeply in need of God’s acceptance and forgiveness. She struggles with doubt at times and like Isaiah she says, “Woe is me,” for she knows what it is to be a person of unclean lips facing God.

When Isaiah faced God as a sinful person and cried out, “Woe is me!” God fixed the problem: the seraph cleansed his unclean lips with a burning coal.

Likewise, God fixes our problem of sinfulness through Jesus, through his innocent suffering and death. We are made right with God through faith in Jesus. We may still struggle with doubt at times, like my elderly saint, but God’s grace is enough: God accepts us just as we are, unclean lips and all.

Gracious God, we thank you for your undeserved grace and for your mercy given to us through Jesus, your Son. In Jesus' name. Amen. — AK