So remember your chains
Remember the prison that once held you
Before the love of God broke through
Remember the place you were without grace
When you see where you are now
Remember your chains
Oh, remember your chains
When you remember your chains
Remember your chains are gone
Imagine what your life would be
If Jesus had not set you free
Remember your chains are gone
Remember the prison that once held you
Before the love of God broke through
Remember your chains
And remember your chains are gone
(from the song "Remember Your Chains" by Steven Curtis Chapman)
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I'm not here to debate on the recent tragedy, nor am I here to comment on the opinions swirling around America right now concerning the handling of the situation. If you really want to know where I stand on those things e-mail me and I'll be glad to privately share with you my thoughts.
But I am here with a heavy heart. How can one not have a heavy heart in light of national events? My heavy heart forces me to go inside of myself and search myself for my responses and reactions.
So I will simply say that I realize that without Jesus Christ I am just as depraved, I am just as wicked, I am just as driven to hurt others as this man who carried out his wickedness on Monday. I am NO better than he apart from Christ. I'm not.
Oh, but I have Christ - who radically changes how I think and how I speak and how I behave. And while I am not perfect and I don't think, speak, or behave perfectly I at least have a hope to look to. I at least can look at where I was and where I am at and know that without Christ I am capable of wicked and evil things. Remembering the chains of flesh which once held me bondage to misery keeps me humble before my God.
Matthew 7:1-5 says this, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Some of you right now may be shaking your heads and thinking, "Whew, Beth, girl you have a looooong way to go on this whole judging thing." You know what? If you're thinking that, you're right. I do have a long way to go but all I do if I am tempted to be discouraged is look back at the chains that once held me. Where there was bondage to wickedness there is now freedom in Christ.
Am I going to be perfect? Have I arrived? The simple and honest answer is no. And because of that I will not pretend to know the answers to a situation that is so far beyond my comprehension, I will pray and look to the One who offers freedom from the wickedness I am prone to in my flesh.
I've drawn a circle around myself and change needs to begin with the one standing inside of that circle.
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Amazing Grace
by John Newton 1779 (take a look at this man's life!! He knows the depravity from which he was saved...)
Amazing Grace!
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.
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