…about messes

In a sermon last year, the pastor said something that reminded me of something that I am hearing a lot of my younger friends say.  They say, “I am a mess,”  or “I know God loves me despite my mess,” or similar sentiments.  I began to wonder if they are diluting SIN by calling it MESS? So, I decided to look up the word “mess” in the Bible.  I didn’t really expect it to be there — but it was!

מַשְׂאֵת = maś’êth = mas-ayth’   H4864   (Strongs)

From H5375; properly (abstractly) a raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising (of flame); figuratively an utterance; concretely a beacon (as raised); a present (as taken), mess, or tribute; figuratively a reproach (as a burden): - burden, collection, sign of fire, (great) flame, gift, lifting up, mess, oblation, reward.

I am not sure exactly what those younger friends mean by the word “mess,” but I think it would be correct to say that God excepts our lives as a living sacrifice regardless of the condition they are in.