Scoreboard

One of my favorite student-section chants is “Scoreboard.” If unfamiliar, it is when the winning team points out the losing team and chants, “scoreboard, scoreboard, scoreboard,” as loud as they can as they erupt into cheer and celebration. It is fun for everyone except the losing team.

In our lives, guilt and shame can make us feel like the losing team. When we mess up, we imagine a scoreboard: Us vs. God. If we were honest, our side remains on 0, and God’s has surpassed double digits. Sometimes, we may score after obeying God’s Word, but we quickly lose points by messing up again. But unlike high school football games, God doesn’t shout, “Scoreboard,” at us. Instead, He shouts, “Grace!”

God loves us so much that when we fell to sin, He sent Jesus to be the greatest play of all: salvation through faith in Jesus. Instead of God winning the game, He gave us a chance to win through salvation and forgiveness. When we come to God and lay down our messy history of mistakes, the scoreboard is cleared: 0-0. And there is nothing God asks in return!

Love has no scoreboard. God has no scoreboard. The only score that matters is the amount of times He has loved us, forgiven us, and cleansed us from shame and guilt. His love for you isn’t based on a scoreboard but on His love.

So, when you start to feel shame and guilt, when you picture the scoreboard showing all your mistakes, mess-ups, and sinful moments, remind yourself of this truth: God is faithful to forgive, and He has no scoreboard.