For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. John 3: 17

What comfort! Jesus—who knows our very hearts inside and out—didn’t come to judge us. We don’t have to pretend to be good enough, or perfect, or what we think we should be. We can be who we are because Jesus is not pointing a finger at us.

Does that mean we have it made in the shade and can stay just the way we are? Of course not. Our Savior loves us too much. Oxford American Dictionary defines the word savior as “a person who rescues or delivers people from harm or danger.” When the harm and danger is of our own making, Jesus needs to save us from ourselves. That might involve bringing to our attention harmful behaviors we weren’t conscious of. That can be painful, but ultimately beneficial. If we do things that hurt ourselves and others, saving us implies a call to change. That can also be uncomfortable, but beneficial, not only for us, but for everyone we come in contact with.

Wouldn’t every day go a lot more smoothly if we could lay down a tendency to judge others so that our own flaws don’t look so bad? Realizing that we ourselves are accepted and loved as is, rather than judged, makes room in our hearts for saving grace.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me from myself.

Reflection for sharing: What are some ways to appropriate Jesus’ saving love and make it more active in our lives today?