THANKFUL

Thursday, October 03, 2019

Good afternoon, Jesus.

We saw you yesterday, Jesus. We would have had to be physically and spiritually blind to miss you. Your presence was obvious. Your word says so clearly in Galatians 4:4 that at the “fullness of time,” at just the right time, God sent his Son Jesus to save us from our sins. You came to us again, only this time as an 18-year-old young man from St. Lucia, Brandt Jean. While giving his victim impact statement to his brother Botham Jean’s killer, Amber Guyger, his message was not what she expected. Instead of harsh words of condemnation, he said he forgave her. He wanted the best for her. “I think giving your life to Christ is the best thing Botham would want you to do.” What happened next left everyone speechless. Brandt asked permission from Judge Tammy Kemp if he could hug Guyger. After receiving permission, as Jean left the witness stand, Guyger ran and fell into his arms. Sobs echoed throughout the courtroom. Reconciliation was birthed. Healing began.

Grace won. Those protesting in the hallway were left powerless.

With the impact statements completed, the Judge Kemp gave Guyger her personal Bible she kept on the bench. She opened God’s word to John 3:16 and explained to Guyger the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then they prayed and Guyger gave her life to Jesus, right there in the courtroom. Her jail sentence remains. She will spend time in prison. But her now born-again spirit is free from the prison of sin! Amber Guyger is now a new creation in Christ Jesus, and like the rest of us, God will complete the good work he started in Guyger.

What a demonstration of your grace, Lord Jesus. God the Father gave his impact statement. He didn’t sugar-coat my guilt. My sins separated me from you, Lord. My standards, although approved by the world, were meaningless when compared with your standards. But what you said humbled me: “I forgive you. I love you. I want you to give your life to me.” You saw my guilt, yet you left your stand and walked toward me. You made the first move. How could I not run to embrace you, sobbing because your grace was so immeasurable to a sinner like me—fully forgiven of every wrong I ever did or will do. But what about the consequences of my sin? Doesn’t your righteousness demand sin be punished. Jesus stepped up, “Father, I’ll take his punishment!”

Grace won. Hell was left powerless. At the right time, Jesus came along. Amen.