Have you ever really thought about where this phrase, ‘a hot mess’ came from?  Interestingly enough, I watched a sermon just the other day that spoke about its origins.

In the 19^th century, it had to do with a hot meal.  In the mess hall.  Funny how back then we equated good food for a mess.  And then in the 20^th century, the military began using it as ‘a dangerous environment’.  Like when they walked into a booby trap or being surrounded by the enemy, that sort of situation.  And now today, in the 21^st century we have now begun to use it in and entirely different way.

Now, we have dubbed it as an ‘attractive disaster’ of sorts.  You know, that person whose life is a total mess, but they clean up well.  They know how to put on a face and look great to the outside world when we all know everything inside and at home looks like a bomb exploded or is about to.

And it’s always those times, when we are at our worst, our lowest that we walk into church or school, or even the mall and see all these people who look like they have it all together.  It’s all perfect for them and we are such a, dare I say it, hot mess.

Or so we think.  We think that everyone around us has it all together and we are the odd man out.  That we are alone in our mess.  This this never happened to anyone else, at least not anyone we know.

But here’s the thing; we are surrounded by some of the finest hot messes ever.  Because at one time or another, all of us are that hot mess.  We are all just one dumb decision away from being that hot mess.  And just so you know, there’s always someone whose life is a bigger mess than yours!

Funny thing is, the mess is what we all have in common.  It brings us together.

And it seems in our culture today, we are all striving to divide. He’s white, she’s not.  So what?  She’s Republican, he’s not.  And in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter?  Not one little bit.

Romans 3:22-23 says, “…even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…”

So basically we are all the same.  We have all sinned, all become that hot mess we are talking about.  And that’s fantastic news.  You want to know why?  Because this is exactly what brought God down to earth.  It brought him near because of His compassion for us, His never-ending love for us.

God is not content to leave us here, in our hot mess.  He actually did something about it.

“ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;” Romans 3:23-24

Wow!  God sent Jesus to be our sacrifice, to pay the price for our hot messes.   So be encouraged today, you who call yourselves by His name, you have been forgiven, your mess has been cleaned up.  Such a great spot remover.

But maybe, just maybe you feel a gap between you and God in your hot mess.  Maybe even further away from God than ever.  This Big idea is for you;

GOD WANTS TO MEET YOU IN YOUR HOT MESS!

Stay tune for part two to see what that’s all about!

XOXO,

Linda