We have all been hurt. We have all been
rejected. We have all offered our hearts only to have them thrust
back into our faces.
Why would we continue to offer what no
one seems to want? Why would we want to keep risking when we seem to
receive so much hurt in return?
Why would we continue to make
ourselves vulnerable, holding out our hearts in cupped hands, when so
often the result is more bruising, more cuts, more places that will
not heal?
Why?
Because this is what God did.
Yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son...
This. This is why.
God continually offers Himself to us.
He offers us His heart.
God continues to offer what we don't
seem to want. He risks Himself and often receives hurt from us in
return. He continues to make Himself vulnerable, holding out His
heart to us while we simply thrust it back into His face.
While we were still sinners. When we
were God's enemies.
That was when He offered up His heart
in the form of His Son.
And that is why we continue to offer
our own hearts, to make ourselves vulnerable so that we can form the
sort of community that demonstrates to the piece of world around us the immense and vulnerable way that God loves.
art credit: painting of Christ Crucified by Velazquez
art credit: painting of Christ Crucified by Velazquez