Scripture
"For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. " (Lamentations 3:31-33)
Observation
A week or so ago the most unlikely ESPN alert popped up on my phone, Lakers Sign Rondo. Disbelief was my first reaction, maybe it’s some other Rondo, cause it can’t be the former champ who spurned them just a year ago and played for the team across the hallway. But as the click bait got me, sure enough, the once upon a time villain, was now offered yet another shot with the purple and gold. Now, I know comparing the laments of the prophet and the Rajon Rondo/Lakers reconciliation is a stretch, but when reading, “NO ONE IS CAST OFF FOREVER”, this is the first image that popped into my head!
But the scripture is true! I’m living and breathing proof. You can’t outrun or distance yourself from the Lord no matter how hard you try.
Application
“I’m done”. I say it to Jana when I don’t get my perspective across, I tell it to the girls when they are disobedient, and I say it to others instead of lashing out in loud unpleasant words. Scary thing is in that moment, I often mean it. I’m done. I’m not dealing with this anymore, I’m walking away and never returning, I’ve given up all hope.
But a million thanks you’s to my Savior and King that He has never once said that to me. He’s never cast me off, never failed to love. Yes, there’s grief, harsh correction, increased accountability, but never a lack of compassion and love.
And that’s a part of the picture that I need to work on to pursue Christlikeness; the heart to forgive AND to correct. Too often my forgiveness or my correction are singular actions. Unlikely my Savior, I often “willing bring affliction and grief”, and then I offer forgiveness, when I feel it’s deserved. With the Lord it’s the other way around, and it goes hand in hand.
That’s the wonderfully amazing thing about grace, we don’t need to define it, just live in and by it. On top of that the scripture reminds me that I need to look no further than to the King of kings for example on how to effectively do both as He’s shown that action time and time again.
Prayer
Thank you Jesus for continually gracing me with Your grace. A grace that includes correction in order to never be the same. My only role is to accept the grace, not try and earn it, not to try and define it, but be different because of it.
