Category: Jesus Character

Holi-mess

We’ve been looking at 1 John 3:5, and seeing that Jesus appeared so that He might take away our sins and that in Him is no sin. Here’s a devotional poem from Christ-follower Kim Adornetto seeing the same. It’s called “Holi-mess.”

His holiness . . .
my unholy mess.

The contrast is extreme.
The force of His flawlessness,
brilliance of His innocence,
power of His purity;
these explode over my
hardened heart,
humbling me.
I feel like a sooty silhouette
left behind by an atomic blast,
just a shadow of what He intended.

I wonder . . .

What does it feel like
to live in this world
untainted, unblemished,
unbroken, unstained?
Never imprisoned
by deceitful desires
or damning consequences.
He is both compelling and scary.
I feel uneasy in His presence;
I feel caught by His omniscience.

But then I remember . . .

He chose to share my shame,
embrace my guilt,
and endure my pain.
He crossed the chasm
that isolated my infection
from His perfection.
He gets me. All of me.
Now He waits, ready
with a ring for my finger
and robes of righteousness,
a celestial celebration.

Someday, I will be holy, too . . .
but for now, I am wholly His.

Devotional poem © 2016 Kim Adornetto. Used with permission.

When a man cultivates a personal friendship with the Chief, there’s no life too much of a mess for Him to straighten out — and keep straightened out.

Peter Marshall

The sinless Christ does not turn away from us, no matter how sinful we are. He says: “Come unto me. He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” Without sin himself he can pity us in our sin, and is willing to wash away the stains. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.

Charles Edward Jefferson

Emergency!

God’s Word says, “He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin” — 1 John 3:5

I remember when
I nearly bled to death —
a ruptured spleen
pouring blood into my body.
Ninety miles an hour we went,
so surgeons could save my life.
You know how urgent that was.

I remember when
I broke my hand
bitterly striking my brother —
his jaw proved tougher than me.
Ashamed but quickly I went,
so doctors could set my hand.
You know we must be put right.

Why then, please tell me why,
do we delay to see the Doctor
whose cross can cure
the fatal poison of our sin?
Especially when we turn to Him,
we find Him knocking at our door?
And yet, you know how we delay.

Devotional poem © 2016 Michael Himick. Used with permission.

In Him Is No Sin

God’s Word says, “He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin” — 1 John 3:5

Seemed So Great

We’ve been looking at Romans 3:23, and seeing that all have sinned. Sometimes, in our daily discussions about Jesus, my wife and I imagine these biblical truths from Molly’s point of view. Molly is our trusty old golden retriever. This is her devotional poem. It’s called “Seemed So Great.”

Oh
at first
sinning
seemed
so great.

But then
I wound up
in my crate.

Devotional poem © 2016 Michael Himick. Used with permission.