Laced With Grace

“Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

As I’ve made my way through one religious text after another, a common theme sticks out. Part of being a Christian is allowing God to use your life as an instrument by which to do His work.

How many of us have heard about the missionaries toiling away in third world countries helping the poor and ailing? How many people have renounced their own religion and turned to Christianity against the best wishes (and beliefs) of their friends and family? How many people have given their lives and freedom for their faith?

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (NASB)

Everywhere I look, I see God uses others to do His will. I hear the great stories of lives those who devote their time, resources and lives to do the work of God.

And yet, I feel left out. What is MY life for, my Lord? When is it my time do to your work? What is my calling?

Will I find it stuck under the couch cushion with the cookie crumbs from yesterday’s snacks? Or is it hiding in the lint trap of the dryer? Maybe it resides in the bottom of the sippy cups I rinse out countless times during the course of my day?

Where do I fit into His grand plan? Where is the place I am meant to make a difference? When is it my time?

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Oh Lord, please lead those who seek to do Your will. Bring us the silence and stillness required to hear You speak. Prompt us to action in the way only You can. We are ready and willing to do Your work. Lead us where You would like us to go. Help us to see Your will in all we do until our moment in Your light arrives.

This we ask in Your name.

It sounded so weird. I tried to click the story, to find out why….I didn’t. This sums up what I found: Man in Prison for 34 years, offered freedom, but chooses to stay in prison. He refuses to leave.

That’s it. He’s a 59 year old German man, who was convicted of murder some 34 years ago, he was offered freedom, but refuses to leave his jail cell. It’s filed in the “strange news” category, at MSN.

The man isn’t interviewed, he doesn’t say he’s afraid to leave, or even that it’s in protest to an unjust trial… they tell us nothing. He just won’t leave.

It’s news-worthy. Why? Because somehow, we think it’s a strange and rare occurance. It just doesn’t make sense, it’s weird. But then I thought about it….

Maybe it isn’t so rare, I think it happens every day.

Everyday a mom who struggles with guilt, over sins she has asked forgiveness for, but won’t forgive herself for, refuses to leave her jail. She holds onto her jail of guilt, and refuses to leave it’s familiarity. Everyday, a man who knows that he has died to sin, that his freedom has been bought with a price, stays in his jail. He continues to sin.

Another woman, who is tempted, but knows there is a way out? She stays in her prison of temptation and sin. Another man, who is offered the good news of salvation? He decides it’s too late for him, that God can’t possibly mean him, he doesn’t deserve it. So, he stays in his prison, punished by his own choice.

Every single day.

Here is what Jesus, himself had to say on the subject of His offer of freedom:

Luke 4:18-21

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus came- to set the captives free. I have been a captive, but I will NOT choose to stay in my jail. Not a jail of sin, or guilt or shame. Jesus has set me free, end of story. If He can forgive and free me, why would I stay? Why would anyone?

What about you? Are you sitting on a hard narrow cot in your jail cell, the door wide open, freedom being graciously offered to you, but refusing to leave? Have you been there as long as the man in Germany? 34 years? More? Less? Are you afraid to leave? Are you afraid of freedom? Are you comfortable, at least, in the familiarity of your cell? Do you just plain feel like, you deserve your prison?

We all do. But Jesus doesn’t want to leave us there. Because, He loves us. He loves YOU.

You don’t have to stay. You can leave today.

Right now.

I’m not the one who holds the key, I won’t pretend to know all the answers about how to rid ourselves of guilt and sin and shame… but I know this, to stay in our cells when Jesus has set us free, is a slap in his face, a face that was already beaten beyond recognition. A face that now- tenderly looks at us in love. Inviting us to leave, with Him.

Let’s pray.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died to set us free, first from the punishment of our sin, then from the bondage to our sin, and finally, from the guilt of our sin. I ask you to forgive, I ask you to help us see the jail cell is open, you’ve given us freedom, and invite us to leave. For so many reasons, it can be hard to leave our prisons, God- I ask you to carry us out the door, our arms wrapped around your neck, faces buried in your chest, carry us out of our prison, and into freedom, teach us to walk in the freedom that comes from you. I love you Lord- amen.

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.~ 1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV)

Many of you might have read/seen this past week the new dove-beauty campaign. That got me thinking (I know — usually gets me into trouble)…

What truly makes a woman beautiful? The skin? The body? Of course I want to look good for my husband. I do my daily regiments (which seem to get longer as I get older ) to keep my skin clean and ‘presentable’. But is that the only way I am beautiful? Reading Peter’s words about beauty, I think that we should look also at the beauty within. A quiet and gentle spirit.

But how can I obtain a gentle and quiet spirit? This world is hard and angry. It is not easy to keep quiet and gentle all the time. You know what works for me in situations where I want to just speak up? I stop and pray. I pray that God will give me His gentle Spirit to respond to someone who is lashing out at me. If I would react on my first impulse, nothing good will come out of it. If I rely on Him though, I am calm and collected.

Paul writes in his letter to the believers in Colossi:

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” ~ Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)

Let God invade you heart today. Let Him make you beautiful within. The beauty that comes from within, will also show outward.

Lord of Heaven & Earth. I am asking you this morning to give me a quiet and gentle spirit. I know that You make me beautiful within and outward. Lord, with Your Spirit I can show the world what true beauty means. I love you Lord. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen