Daily Devotional for February 11, 2015

Ecclesiastes 7:20
And there is not a single man in all the earth who is always good and never sins.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Recently, I was called for jury duty.  I was not actually seated on the jury, but I did have to sit through a few hours of “interview” in which both the prosecuting and defense attorneys outlined the case and made determinations about the qualifications of prospective jurors.  The defendant – a 34-year-old man – was charged with robbing a McDonald’s employee at gunpoint, then attacking two witnesses with a knife.  I read news reports later that stated the man was convicted on all counts and sentenced to over 50 years in prison.

In the blink of an eye, this young man’s life changed forever.  I have no idea what events led up to this situation.  I did not hear the arguments and testimonies presented in court.  Sitting with his attorneys in the courtroom, there was nothing extraordinary about this person's appearance…he did not have the “look” of a “criminal”.  Yet a jury of his peers apparently deemed him to be one.

In the eyes of the LORD, you and I are not all that different from this young man.  Okay…so we probably have not robbed someone at gunpoint…but we have sinned all the same.  We have lied, gossiped, said and done hurtful things, shown disrespect, stolen, and otherwise dishonored our relationship with God – and others.  In the blink of an eye, we have misspoken, stepped on someone’s toes, or done something we shouldn’t.

I have to wonder if the young man in the courtroom felt God’s presence, even as he was being sentenced to more than a half-century behind bars.  Do we still feel God’s presence when WE sin?  Because the truth of the matter is that God is still with us…still available…still ready to forgive and restore us. Jesus forgave a thief on the cross and welcomed him into Paradise.  No one knows us better than God…no one more fully understands our sinful nature than He.  That is why we read in Lamentations 3:22-23 that…“It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.”

Do not get confused…this is not a “free pass” to sin and then expect God to forgive you.  But whether you are having a “good” day…or you have already slipped up more times than you can count…God wants to redeem and restore you.  The key is to humble yourself before Him,  admit your mistakes, and genuinely commit to doing better. Wherever you are today…whatever is happening…God is only a whisper away.  Have you spoken with Him yet?  Isn’t it time you did?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus