“I swept away your rebellions like a cloud, and your sins like fog. Return to me, because I have redeemed you” (Isaiah‬ ‭44:22‬ ‭CEB‬‬).

I grew up in Carrollton, Michigan, a little township that was known for a sugar beet factory that filled the air with a smell that was anything but sweet. Occasionally I would meet kids from other school districts who’d turn their nose up at me and walk away just because of where I was from.

Everyone has experienced the awful feeling of being pre-judged. Some of us have missed out on opportunities or even lost friendships because we were sentenced without a trial in the court of popular opinion. The world can be cruel and quick to condemn, but God is the exact opposite.

The people of Judah were disloyal to the Lord and brought the burden of Babylon upon themselves. Now we might expect our merciful God to consider rescuing a rebellious nation if they beg and plead hard enough, but the Lord went a step further. Our scripture verse above reveals that God rescued the Judahites FIRST—before they repented! Likewise, Jesus went to the cross and secured salvation for us WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS (Rom 5:8). We do not worship a transactional god; we worship a covenantal, familial God who loves us unconditionally and redeems us undeservedly.

O Lord, help us turn away from seeking acceptance from the fickle and return to you, our faithful redeemer. Amen.