Here I am, sitting on a blog under hundreds of eyes, and I feel I have done you a great disservice. There are so many it has never told their value in the eyes of Jesus.

Forget what you know of religion. It doesn’t change your value.

A God willing to give his life to pay a debt you did not even know about…that is not hate, but love.

You can choose to view it as merely condemnation, if you wish. But I entreat you to reason thus: if that were the case, why would he even offer such a sacrifice? The condemned-and-dismissed require no further action. The reaching out, the astonishing divine work put into this offer, evidences a desire to save.

Nor does Jesus make you aware of the debt and then tell you to pay. That’s called legalism and it is, unfortunately, all that many know of him. Live a good life and you’ll get there.

No. Through Jesus, you’re already there. By believing on him, the debt is paid. You are home.

‘I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.”


“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”


“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'”


“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'” (Luke 15:18-23)

No other human echo or facsimile of love can touch this. For one thing, you’ve probably found out human love’s inadequacies for yourself by now. For another, none of them can make as great a sacrifice.

This Gospel, as it is called (Greek for “good news”), was made simple enough for all to understand. You do not need a holy life, a churchy record, or a doctorate in theology to grasp it. In fact, the dirtier the person who came before Jesus seeking mercy and the removal of shame, the quicker he was to offer it. Those are the very people he seeks.

Someone has summed up the Gospel, “You are more sinful than you ever imagined; you are more loved than you dared dream.” Whatever else others have told you about your value, whether through word or action, the universe’s Creator says differently. He is not smaller or weaker than your debt, no matter how heavy. He does not reveal your debt in order to shame, but to save.

I can vouch: this life, of which I have been made merely a messenger, is more beautiful than you could imagine. It hinges not on your past. It shackles you to no empty ceremonial labyrinth, political figure, or system of human intermediaries. It is to Jesus’ glory that he alone is the door.

Will you consider getting up and going to the Father?