The Insides

If you want to know what your insides look like when your are self-righteously acting out your bad habits, or being "difficult" as we say, then look at Jesus upon the cross.  He looked like an ugly mess.  Why?  Because people of mean character, nasty, maybe frightened people, had him condemned and whipped, beaten and crucified.  Those people looked pretty good in their nice robes and status.  Jesus looked all the worse for it.  But his insides were full of beauty.

What Jesus did was take all our evil upon himself.  He wore our insides on his outsides.  He replaced our insides with his love and beauty...if we can accept it.  "Father forgive them, they know not what they do," he moaned.  Luther sees us a the bride, the wretched bride, whom the groom, God in Jesus, takes in betrothal, knowing full well that we cannot escape ourselves in our mess.  The groom takes all of our mess upon himself and gives us the ring of Love.  It is freely given, unearned.  Accept it.  It might change your day, and certainly make for a better day for those around you.