In the past you were to sin - sin controlled you.
But thank God, you fully obeyed the things that you were taught.
You were made free from sin,
and now you are slaves to goodness.
Roman 6:17,18
All ships that land at the shore of grace weigh from anchor from the port of sin. We must start where God starts. We won't appreciate what grace does until we understand who we are. We are rebels. We are Barabbas. Like him. we deserve to die. Four prison walls, thickened with fear, hurt, and hate, surround us. We are incarcerated by our past, our lowroad choices, and our hight- minded pride. We have been found guilty.
We sit on the floor of the dusty cell. awaiting for the final moment. Our executioner's footsteps echo against stone walls. Head between knees, we don't look up as he opens the door; we don't lift our eyes as he begins to speak. We know what he is going to say. "Time to pray for your sins." But we here something else.
"You're free to go. They took Jesus instead of you."
The door swings open, the guard bark, "Get out," and we find ourselves in the light of the morning sun, shackles gone, crimes pardoned, wondering, What just happened?
Grace happened.
God Is with You Every Day By Max Lucado
今の自分がどこから始まったのかなんて、こんな風に考えたことはありませんでした。
私は独房にいて、恐れと痛みと嫌悪とに囲まれ、膝の間に頭をもたげ、死刑の執行を待つ身であったとマックスは言います。
それを忘れてはいけないって。
確かにそうでした。
バラバは自分だということを忘れて、偉そうに伝道しちゃいけない。
自分もそこにいたことを忘れて、哀れんではいけない。
愛する人の救いは簡単じゃないけど、でも、こんな私でさえ救われたことを忘れてはいけない。
こんな私でさえ。