I didn’t realize I kept receipts until my Mommy moved in. Apparently, I have a practice of not retaining receipts from purchases in my wallet, but instead in the bag that the item I purchased came in. When I use the plastic bag I look at the receipt and determine if I’ve “kept” what I purchased and then throw it away. Not until my Mommy began questioning as she prepared the bags for royal usage, did I realize. She says, “Stephanie, do you need this receipt?” I stop what I’m doing to engage my memory and then we move accordingly. In contemporary times or “the streets, “receipts” are utilized to provide evidence of people, places and things, most often associated with demonstrating proof to retract words, actions and deeds. Thank God, the receipts upon our life are not visible like the ones I leave in the bag. Certainly, God can do all but fail and the blessing over us is that He fails to keep receipts. Consider that from the one who never fails us (II Timothy 2:13)!

Luke 9:62 affirms, “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” God is not here in these streets reminding us of what we’ve done. When we accept Christ in our lives, we are granted new life to move differently, and daily doses of mercy and grace, for even when we don’t. Perfection walked the earth over 2000 years ago, and will not again until Christ returns. Yet somehow even when we detach ourselves from the receipts other people keep on us, we have a laundry bag of our own that we struggle to release, as we categorize them over our life. Jesus came so that we would have life and that more abundantly (John 10:10). That requires us to release the receipts unto the One who fails to keep them! Glory to God!

And similar to my analogy, He can use us, receipts and all. God doesn’t expect us to rid ourselves of the essence of who we are. Whatever struggles, pain and darkness we’ve experienced are life giving. Our infirmities are situated and purposed to be healing for others. That is hard to comprehend perhaps, but I’m certain each of us have benefitted from the missteps of others, even while making a few of our own. The love that God has for us, then, now and in the future is constant regardless of the times we’ve followed obediently and when we’ve strayed drastically. When He called us, He knew the baggage we carried and yet extended love anyway; so who are we to keep what He discards? He fails to keep receipts and it’s all for His good. We ourselves are not discarded. He doesn’t need to bring up our past. He knows and yet His loves unconditionally. Allow that to seep into your bones today and if you would be so kind, share this truth with someone who needs a gentle reminder. May we look to the author and finisher of our faith as we journey on.