There are some parties that we should never attend. Specifically, the pity party.
The guest list is disasatrous: loneliness, condemnation, self-loathing, imperfection, and low self-esteem.
If you’ve ever attended a party like that or you might be today’s guest of honor, I have Good News!
“We sinned against him, but he didn’t give us the punishment we deserved. 11 His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. 13 The LORD is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children. 14 He knows all about us. He knows we are made from dust. 15 He knows our lives are shor… 17 But the LORD has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever! He will be good to all their descendants, 18 to those who are faithful to his agreement and who remember to obey his commands.” Psalm 103:10-18 ERV
Don’t go to the party!
It seems we fall prey to that destructive kind of thinking at one time or another. Do you know why?
We forget what God says about us. What’s the first thing that jumps from the page when you read the verses above? For me, it’s “he didn’t give us the punishment we deserved.”
Jesus died for my sins so I don’t have too. He knew I was incapable of living a sinless life so the Father placed the responsibility for my sin on Jesus! The Father showers me with love and kindness – my sin has been blotted out. My failure has been expunged! The handwriting against me has been cancelled!!
No pity party here – send the guests back to hell, that’s where they came from!
Each day we can walk free of condemning thoughts, low self-esteem, by reminding ourselves what God has done for us through Christ Jesus.
“So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. 2 Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Roman 12:1-2 ERV
The more we focus on God’s love, the less we will focus on our short comings.
“But God’s free gift is not like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But the grace that people received from God was much greater. Many received God’s gift of life by the grace of this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 After Adam sinned once, he was judged guilty. But the gift of God is different. His free gift came after many sins, and it makes people right with him.” Romans 5:15 ERV
Tear up the invitation; don’t go to the party! Remember, “the LORD has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever!”