Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.
“These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.
Isaiah 66:2
Have you ever said the words “I’m sorry” without actually meaning it? I know that I have. More times than I can count.
It’s usually pride that keeps me from truly apologizing. I don’t think many people like to admit when they are wrong. It makes us look bad, makes us feel bad.
Or it could be selfishness. I know that there have been times when I apologized for something with every intention of repeating the transgression. Whether it was stealing stationary when I was a kid (all I can say is I was selfish and we were poor…and I loved stationary. I was a nerdy criminal) or not answering the phone when I didn’t feel like speaking to the person on the other end of the line.
In any case, it’s easy to apologize without meaning it. Which is why repentance is so key to our relationship with God.
I can’t tell you how many times someone told me, “I’m/he/she/they (are) a good person…” and then go on to talk about the bad things they’ve done. We don’t like to admit that we are bad. But that kind of makes the idea of being “good” meaningless.
To be honest, when we compare ourselves to other people, it’s easy to assume that most are good. There are crimes, sure, but it is rare to find a person that is just bad through and through, with no redeeming qualities.
But when we compare ourselves to God, it’s also easy - to know that none are good. It’s like…hmmm…let’s take dogs for example (not saying we’re dogs, but just bear with me here).
Puppies roughhouse with each other, biting, growling, wrestling, shoving. It’s good, beneficial behavior, because it teaches the puppies the skills they will need as an adult. It’s bad behavior when that puppy is roughhousing with you, your friends or your children - because we don’t like violence, especially if that violence is directed towards a human child or otherwise helpless individual.
A good dog amongst dogs will bite, snarl, nip or growl in order to chastise or correct another dog’s behavior. A bad dog will bite, snarl, nip or growl at humans for the same reasons, but those reasons are unacceptable when directed towards people.
In the same way, a good human amongst humans is not perfect, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. But when we are with God…even goodness is not enough, because how can good compare with perfect?
It can’t.
All that to say, there is no shame or “badness” in approaching God with a broken and contrite spirit. And living with that brokenness in mind makes life paradoxically better - humility, gratefulness, compassion, patience, all these godly characteristics are much more attainable when we are not focused on covering up our “bad” points.
So! My friend, I am praying that this week you will be filled with an appreciation for the love of God, and that you will approach life with a broken and contrite spirit. May your successes bring you joy, and may your failures lead to gratitude, for they are not irredeemable.
