Blessed Are the Misfits by Brant Hansen

Author:Brant Hansen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2017-10-11T04:00:00+00:00

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (4:14–16 NKJV)

Please know, if you feel like you can’t do this, if you never feel you can go “boldly” before God because of your spiritual impostor syndrome, I completely understand. That’s me too. This is why I have to hear this early and often, this promise that I can come out of hiding, that I can actually talk to God anyway.

I need to be reminded constantly. Otherwise, I’ll begin to turn away from Him, frustrated that He can’t really be pleased, no matter what I do. Or I may even start to write stories in my head to explain why the things I’m ashamed of really aren’t so bad. I’ll retrofit my own narratives to try to deal with the shame.

I suspect many people walk away from God entirely because of their desire to avoid shame, laying the intellectual groundwork as they go. They tell themselves maybe there’s no God after all. Maybe if there is one, He really doesn’t care what we do or who we become.

Or maybe we just slink away in shame and try not to think about Him at all anymore.

So I’m not very good at Bible stuff. I don’t read it enough. I’m not good at praying either. I don’t pray enough. I’m not Mr. Evangelism. I don’t emote during worship because I don’t feel much, honestly.

People give me religious credit for talking about Jesus-stuff on the radio, but it’s also part of my job and it puts groceries on the table.

But . . .

I keep going back to this man on a cross next to Jesus. A thief. A criminal. Someone who, no doubt, wanted to “be somebody.” Someone whose story was ending in shame. Someone who had nothing—zero—to offer.

No religious résumé. No great story. Nothing.

What a loser, right? But he recognized Jesus.

And then:

“Today you will be with Me in Paradise . . .”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.