God, The Judge....

Yesterday I didn't get a chance to blog because I had been chosen to sit in for selection of a jury for a criminal trial. Even though I was not picked to sit in on the jury, I did get to sit there and watch the process happen for a couple of hours. It wasn't until I had been dismissed that my mind began to think about the entire process of being "judged by our peers". I watched as both sides tried to hand pick the juries that would be best for "their side" of this trial. And I watched a man sit there that was about to be found innocent or guilty based on the perception of evidence that was about to be presented to this jury.
Like I often do, I began to relate this to my/our walk with God. I began to think about all the things I have been guilty of in my life and how glad I was that I am judged by God and God alone for my sins. We stand before, and are judged by, a God who does not have to be persuaded one way or the other and that does not look at "what" we have done and decide our judgement based on the sin. We stand before a God that simply says Jesus already paid the price for that son/daughter, so all you have to do is confess it, receive my gift (my son) and receive my forgiveness. We don't need to build a defense...and actually even though we do build one with God sometimes, it's pointless. He already knows what we did, the motive of our heart when we did it and if we are truly sorry when we repent of it. So the best thing we can do with God is go to Him broken and lay it all out. The enemy wants us to fear laying it all before God because he tries to convince us that there is no way God would forgive "that"...."that" is just too bad and you should be ashamed. God says lay your shame down, pick up my forgiveness and carry it. My forgiveness is for you and it is much lighter to carry than that guilt and shame you have been carrying.
Thank God we do not have to rely on our fellow man to have our sins forgiven. Because man tends to forget his own sin, troubles and shortcomings when we are given the chance to judge someone else. But being judged by a blameless God who we know already wants to forgive us even before we've asked is so much more comforting.
Thank You God that You are a blameless, just, fair and forgiving Judge. Thank You for offering up a spotless gift (Jesus) to take the place of the punishment I often deserve. Thank You for making a way to come to You.....confessing and receiving that gift. Please help me convey to others that they do not need to walk around feeling condemned by the enemy, because Your gift is for ALL who come to You! In Jesus name, Amen.