by J. Randal Matheny

"Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God" (Romans 15:7, NASB).

"Just as I am." Christ accepts me just as I am, in order to make me what he wants me to be.

Just as I am, with all my hangups, problems, neuroses, and unresolved issues. And sins. Especially with all my sins.

After acceptance comes transformation, not before. "Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve."

Christ never ignores, excuses, or overlooks my sins and all the rest of my ugliness. Never. But he takes me in, just as I am.

"Thy love unknown Has broken every barrier down." I am afraid, unsure, halting, uncertain. But his open arms assure me that when I take the first step, he will accept me.

"Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone." Slowly he peels away the hardness, the scabs, the layers of hurt and resentment, the knots of pain and anger. He pours off the dregs of my darkness.

I am still in process. The sculpted image of God stands yet incomplete.

Wherever I am in this process, Christ still accepts me.

And as frustrated, discouraged, tired, as I may be with my progress or lack of it, Christ still accepts me.

And bids me accept myself, where I am, with the warts and wrinkles and worry lines. With the scars and cuts and bruises. Spots and all.

This is me. Much of it from long ago, still lingering, still limping, still aching. Just as I am.

"O Lamb of God, I come, I come!"