Child-Like Faith: Just as I am

Just as I am - without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

These familiar words were written by Charlotte Elliot after a night of being kept awake by thoughts of her "apparent uselessness."  When she arose the next morning, the thoughts came back to her, and to release herself from them, she wrote, in verse, the promises of her faith - that God called her just as she was, and that in God she would find salvation.

This is a promise God has made to all of us, and it is an invitation to to us - to come, just as we are.

And yet, there are times when we do not offer that invitation to others. We judge, we reject, we gossip, we hate. If Christ is shining within us, how can we not act like Christ? How can we bring people to God if we do not open ourselves to acceptance as Christ has accepted us?

This is part of a child-like faith. "To like everyone, just as they are."