Judge Dredd

Have you ever been driving and made a mistake that almost caused a wreck? If you have, you are certainly hoping for mercy at that time. Have you ever been in that same situation and then become irate just minutes later when someone cuts you off? This reminds me of the movie Judge Dredd where Sylvester Stallone says “I am the law!”

The story of the servant who owed a great debt to the king reminds us of how to offer grace to others (Matthew 18:21-35). The king was collecting from all people who were indebted to him. The servant owed a large sum of money…and the king was about to sell off the man’s family to settle his debt. The servant pleaded with the king to give him more time to pay the king back…and the king decides to cancel his debt! The servant goes out and demanded one of his fellow servants repay him a small amount of money…when the fellow servant could not, he was thrown in prison by the first servant. When the king heard about the first servant’s unwillingness to extend the grace that had been offered to him, the king had the first servant thrown in prison.

Too often, we think we deserve to judge who deserves to receive grace. If you ask how often you should extend grace, Matthew 18:21 tells us to forgive those who sin against us 70 times 7 times (good luck with counting someone else’s sins and maintaining a heart that is in sync with God’s grace…those 2 just don’t go together). Let’s extend the grace God has so freely given to us instead of demanding that people settle their debts (emotional, physical, economical, etc.) with us.

One of a Kind

Have you ever seen anyone that makes you say that person is one of kind? Many professional football commentators say this about former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, who is considered one of the greatest players in NFL history. While other wide receivers may eventually approach or even break his records, none will be Jerry Rice. It is widely reported that he developed his great hands by catching bricks that his brothers would throw to him. His off-season training regimen included running up a steep 5 mile hill in the morning and weight lifting in the afternoon. He also excelled at the less glorified parts of being a wide receiver including running great routes and being a great blocker.

So, what does all this have to do with you? You are one of a kind as well. Psalm 139:13-14 says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…". Matthew 10:29-31 spells our worth out even more explicitly "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs or your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

God didn't make us unique just to sit idly on a shelf, just like Jerry Rice's talents may have never been known if he never played football. Our purpose is to "…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…" (Matthew 28:19-20). So, live your life for God's purpose…because God purposely made and cares for you.