TODAY IS…

a terrific day to remind ourselves that God loves even the worst of us.

“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?”  Matthew 20:15 KJV

Many individuals live their entire lives in the light of the Lord.

They spend time each day reading the Bible and meditating on its message. They offer praise to God for all of their blessings and they pray for their own souls and for the souls of others. They worship at their church regularly, participate in the many missions of the church, and give time and money to help others who are less fortunate. They are good husbands and wives, good parents, helpful and considerate neighbors, and loyal friends. Always sharing a smile and a good word, the impact that Christ has had in their lives radiates from within and is an inspiration, as well as a motivation, for others. They have sacrificed much in service to the Lord, but have also been richly rewarded.

Other individuals come along who are as unlike the individuals described above as night is to day.

Their lives have been lived in a way that demonstrates the power of evil. They have lied, cheated others, and stolen from anyone they could. Cloaked in darkness, they have sinned in almost every way imaginable. They have lived lives of sexual immorality, greed, lust, and violence. Thinking only of themselves, these individuals drank and carried on with no regard for who they inconvenienced, who they hurt, or who they dragged down into the darkness with them. Never once did they go to church, pray to God, or read the Bible. The only time they even mentioned God was when His Holy Name was taken in vain.

One day, late in life, they had fallen so low they could not go any further. From somewhere deep within, a spark ignited a small fire. That small fire lit the fuse of their faith, which exploded in a sudden understanding that something had been missing from their lives. From that understanding came a need for God.

And standing there ready to show them the way was Jesus Christ.

As perfect as the first group of individuals sounded, there developed a jealousy towards the second group for they knew something that the second group was just beginning to understand: God loves us all unconditionally – even the worst of us. No matter how we have attempted to disrupt or destroy our lives, when we cry out to Jesus, finally, for help, we will find the same love, in the same measure, as those who never strayed.

If you are in the first group and have ever known someone in the second group who has finally cried out to the Lord, do not be jealous. Be happy that another stray has found his or her way back to the Shepard.

And if you are in that second group, be thankful that God is merciful, forgiving, and full of grace.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson