My favorite artist, Greg Olsen has a way of expressing how Jesus sees us in a whole new way. His work has given me a renewed vision of my Lord Jesus and how His spirit speaks to me. Growing up, I had a misconception of Jesus’s reaction to my sin. I envisioned him one of two ways; either with his arms crossed, a frustrated frown on his face, and a look that said, “Seriously? You messed up again? Didn’t I already die for you? Didn’t you commit to follow me a long time ago? Get it together!”
OR my visual picture was a Jesus with shoulders bent in grief, a sad grimace of disappointment on his face, possibly a tear falling down his cheek and a look that said, “This is so sad. I died for you! And this is how you treat me? After all I’ve sacrificed for you?!”
After reading the book “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm” and “Give Them Grace: dazzling your kids with the Love of Jesus.” My new all time two favorite books!) ….this is my renewed and I believe accurate picture of how my Jesus looks at me when I miserably fail.
He has a kind smile on his face, full of love and joy. His arm is around me and He’s speaking truth from His Word, “Come to me. (Matt 11:28) Pour out your heart to me. (Psalm 62:8) You don’t need to be perfect. I AM perfect. (2 Cor 12:9) Confess to me. I already paid for your sin. Just accept my forgiveness. (Psalm 32:5)You need to NEED me. Hard times, failures, and grief help you turn back to me. (Mark 2:17) And I’m right here. And I will NEVER leave you! (Hebrews 13:5)Stop comparing yourself to others. I’m the only one who knows and loves the real you. (1Sam 26:7) Let me change you. (Romans 12:2) Let me satisfy you. (Matt 5:6), Let me lead you and love you! (Jer 29:11) Give me your fear And I will give you my peace. (Phil 4:6-7)
I love you more than you can even imagine my child!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
I’m sharing this because this new picture of Jesus has completely changed my relationship with Him. These pictures made me cry with joy that we have a Savior who looks at us and desires to sit with us like this! Maybe the rest of you already realized this a long time ago. But this is something new for me in the last 3 years.
If you’ve never stopped to think about how Jesus looks at you, take a break from whatever you are doing. Jesus is waiting to strengthen you, comfort you, grieve with you, rejoice with you, and even laugh with you. He is there. He is real. And he is waiting to speak to you and offers real lasting forgiveness and joy.
One of my favorite quotes is:
“Sometimes we don’t hear from God until we position ourselves to listen.” “God is just waiting for you to be still” – Priscilla Shirer
A Loss For Words 