Dear Champions,
The short excerpt is by Tim Keller found in Nancy Guthrie's book Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, and the Scripture is 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
In all relationships-marriage, parent-child, co-worker-at some point you get into a conversation that goes something like this:
"You're to blame!"
"No, it's your fault!"
"No, it's you."
"No it isn't. It's you."
What's happening? The relationship is falling apart because neither side will take the blame, budge an inch, or make any concessions. Neither side will admit wrong or drop defenses. And as long as defenses are up, the relationship is going awry.
But then something happens:
"You're to blame!"
"No, it's your fault!"
"No, it's you."
"No it isn't. It's you."
"Okay, it's me."
One person drops defenses. The relationship starts to come back because one person is willing to say, "Yeah, it's me. I am to blame here." One person makes himself or herself vulnerable, and the relationship is restored.
There is no way to have a real relationship without becoming vulnerable to hurt. And Christmas tells us that God became breakable and fragile. God became someone we could hurt, and Jesus took the blame. Why? To get us back.
Champions, have a great week!-David Vining
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