The following devotion serves as an awesome reminder of Jesus Christ's love for us and that no sin - past, present, or future - is beyond His grace, mercy and forgiveness. No matter where we've come from or where we are, we are precious in His sight and nothing can separate us from His love. What a beautiful truth. Be blessed!
It was just an old broken can opener, but Michael, my young son,
saw something of great value.
When he walked into the kitchen, this "treasure" on
the cabinet piqued his curiosity. He asked if he could play with it as he ran
his little hands over it, checking out all its nifty parts. Better yet, could he
keep it?
I didn't really think he could get hurt since it was broken, but
I explained why it was not a toy.
Despite my insistence, he proceeded to make his case for gaining
possession of the can opener. Finally, growing weary of this discussion, I used
my maternal "I mean
it" tone and told him to throw the broken can opener away and
go play.
Suddenly, little Michael's demeanor changed. His shoulders
slumped and his skinny little arms hung limp beside his body, as if all the
bones had left them completely.
Then for sentimental effect, he poked out his bottom lip and
stared up at me with big, blue, puppy-dog eyes, uttering this question in the
sweetest sounding, most pitiful little-boy voice he could muster: "Well
Mommy, if I was broken, would you just throw me away?"
Whoa! Didn't see that one coming. Our conversation about a silly
can opener just got complicated. I chuckled, gave him a big hug, and reassured
him he was too valuable to me to ever be thrown away — even if he were
completely broken.
Satisfied with my answer, he skipped off with the can opener,
cord flopping behind him. I was left stunned, pondering the weight of his
question.
My thoughts went back to years earlier when I felt like that can
opener because of mistakes in my past: broken and useless, void of value. But
then a smile washed across my face as I remembered the day God told me I was
too valuable in His eyes to ever be thrown away, much like He did for the woman
found in John chapter 8.
John opens this chapter with Jesus confronting a group of
religious leaders who had brought a woman before Him who'd been caught in
adultery. They asked Jesus what they should do with her.
Before shaming her before Jesus, the crowd had already decided
this woman was a throwaway person. A useless sinner. A woman who had made
mistakes and wrong choices and should be held accountable for her actions to
the highest degree: death by stoning.
But Jesus saw more when He looked at that woman. He looked past
her sin and shame and saw her value — a value she most likely didn't even see
in herself.
The leaders asked Jesus what He thought of her sin. They wanted
Him to accuse her and affirm her worthlessness so they could begin the stoning,
but He did just the opposite. He not only refused to accuse her, but also
challenged her accusers: "All
right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"
John 8:7b (NLT)
One by one, they dropped their stones, turned and left. Jesus'
words proved to the crowd and to this broken woman that, despite her sin and
the mistakes she had made, her life mattered.
Certainly this woman knew she'd done wrong. Maybe deep in her
heart she felt she deserved her punishment. Maybe she hung her head ready to
accept the blows, thinking her life lacked purpose. But Jesus knew her worth.
Her value. He knew the purposes for which He'd created her. And He wanted her
to know that, too.
None of us is a throwaway person, because no one is ever beyond
repair in God's eyes. He is the ultimate restorer of people, hearts and lives.
Restoration brings transformation, and the faith to believe our lives truly do
matter to God.
Lord, thank You for loving me, despite
me. Help me see the value You see in me and to trust You have an amazing plan
for my future. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace."
(ESV)
Taken from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Taken from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
