Discovering what love is one day at a time
I was thinking about Jesus and His death and resurrection, how He died for us, and took our place, and that got me to be thinking of that phrase “caught red-handed” which it is a straightforward allusion to having blood on one's hands after the execution of a murder. Although we were not there when they crucified Him, He did take on our sins, our wrong doing, and died for us. My sins, your sins, put Him there. We had been caught …red-handed. Have you ever reached into a candy jar, only to get your hand stuck, because your fist was so full of the guilty pleasure wrapped inside your fingers? The slight wave of panic that you feel, in that split second of my hand is stuck. But the joy of when you realize you are not stuck but free as you release the candy and pull your hand out…..This picture is a lot like our sin. Sin is that which separates us from relationship, deep abiding relationship with God. It is what so easily ensnares us.
The bible says that we are drawn away from God by our own desires; the things that we lust after, the things that grab our attention, or our focus. When our focus and attentions are settled on things other than God, it’s like we are stuck in that candy jar. We can feel like there is no way out. We can feel like we will never be free. However, the truth is we ARE free. A lot of times, a prayer may be “God take this thing from me;” when really we just need to release our grip from the thing that is inside the jar. God does not rip things out of our hands; He waits for us to yield to Him. So really, we have to decide for ourselves …do I love God, or this thing in the jar more. You can have the thing in the jar if you really want it… but know that there is a cost to the love that you have for that thing; however, there is gain in the release. It is a choice. Why remain red-handed, when He promises to wash us, and take away the places we have been?
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AuthorI have been married to my wonderful husband for 29 years. We have two young men ages 25 and 20.. This blog is somewhat of a journal and attempt for me to remind myself of my purpose and invite others to join me in keeping an eternal perspective as we move through each day. Archives
May 2023
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