11/07/26
Imagine the person you love most in all the world. Maybe it is your spouse, whom you have spent decades with; they have cared for you, loved you, held you, been there for you, laughed with you, and cried with you. Maybe it is your child, whom you are or have raised. You sacrificed so much for them, and you love them with everything you have, desiring nothing but a good and godly life for them as adults. Maybe it is your father or mother, whom you love so much because, even as adults, they'd still give up their house and life if it meant a better life for you. Maybe it is your best friend who has been there for you for many years. Maybe it is your brother or sister who helped raise you and loves you like a parent. It could be someone at church like a Sunday School teacher, a Deacon, a Pastor, or just someone who has taken a great interest in your life. Whoever it might be that you love with all that you are, I want you to imagine them right now.
Think of them standing beside you with a smile on their face and then.....
Imagine that you did something wrong and someone hit them square in the nose with all their might. Maybe you were speeding going to the grocery store, or you just halfway did an assignment at work or school. Maybe you told a little white lie or gossiped. Maybe you thought evil about someone, or maybe you just didn't do something you were supposed to do. Whatever it is, the person whom you love the most suffers. First, it is a punch in the nose; then they pull out a fingernail next. Every time you do something wrong, they suffer: a lash to the back, a poke in the eye, or something else.
Would you keep speeding? Would you keep just halfway doing your assignment? Would you keep lying?
Most would not because they do not want someone they care about to suffer.
This thought process was used in world war 2 prisoner camps in Japan. They would have prisoners get in groups of ten. The prisoners would divide up, attempting to choose people they knew they could trust. Then it was explained that if one did wrong, the other nine would be punished. This way they policed themselves, and they did not want to cause pain that they would have to watch their teammates suffer because of their wrong.
If they didn't work hard enough, their teammates would be tied to a ladder hanging upside down and have water poured over them, filling their nostrils with water, causing them to almost drown while you watched along with the rest of the camp. If you tried to escape, you watched as your nine teammates were beheaded. Then you were placed on another team who knew you had been the cause of your teammates' deaths.
Because of this, no one wanted to do wrong. They didn't want to be the reason the ones they did everything with had to suffer.
No one wants to make their loved one suffer for their wrong, so with this in mind, do we realize that it is our sin that caused Jesus to suffer?
You are given mercy while He suffers. Even more so, you are given grace.
We cheapen His grace by looking in other places for peace, support, and instruction, instead of Jesus, who willingly gave His life for us. Scripture says, in Hebrews 13:9 NASB95: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
The only true benefit we have in life is a relationship with Christ, and it is a glorious benefit that comes with all the guidance we need through the Holy Spirit. Satan tries to fool us with things that entice us to turn from grace in fellowship with Jesus. Yet in the end, there is no benefit, as they lead to death.
Heavenly Father, I pray we will not cause any more grieving in the heart of our Savior due to our cheapening of the grace given in life by Christ. Lord, please help us to remember the cost of our actions and attitudes. Guide us to always live in the glorious grace of your life, death, and resurrection. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Love, Brother Scott.