To the CONVICT,
the Potter Loves You
Acts 3:14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a
murderer be released to you. (NIV)
The
Bible tells the story of when Jesus had been arrested and was on trial for a crime
that He never committed. The time that this took place was very interesting to
say the least because it was during the time of Passover, which was celebrated
to honor their Exodus from Egypt. Exodus 13:3 Then Moses said to the
people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land
of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat
nothing containing yeast.” (NIV) The death angel killed the firstborn
of every Egyptian and animal in the land. The Israelites, who were obedient to
God by placing animal’s blood on their doorposts, we spared and passed over
when the death angel came through the land. This was significant because it was
customary for a prisoner to be released during this time and pardoned by the governor.
The crowd that would come was given a choice in between two prisoners and
whichever one the crowd chose…that prisoner would gain a second chance at
freedom. Such was the case between Jesus and Barabbas.
The
Bible doesn’t say a lot concerning Barabbas, but it does let us know that he was
a rebel, murderer and thief for which, he had been imprisoned. Luke
23:18-19 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas
to us!” Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city,
and for murder. (NIV) We do not know the terms of his sentence, but
what the Bible does tell us is that he was put alongside Jesus who had never
harmed anyone and the crowd was able to choose the one they wanted to release.
As the story goes, the crowd chose to release Barabbas, a convict who was
guilty of the crimes accused, over Jesus who had never committed a crime in any
manner. But guess what? Jesus came to die for Barabbas too. That’s right!
Barabbas was indeed a criminal, but the blood that Jesus shed on the cross was
and still is for anyone regardless of what they have done. Matthew 26:28 This is my
blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of
sins. (NIV)
You
may be a convict currently imprisoned or have been released. You may think that
there is no hope for you and that what you have done is so horrible that God
could never forgive someone like you. Well, there is nothing too bad that you
could have done where you will not receive forgiveness for if only you confess,
repent, and ask Jesus into your heart today. Hebrews 9:14 How much
more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to
death, so that we may serve the living God! (NIV) We all must suffer
the consequences of our actions here on earth, but the Potter is willing to
restore everyone who will allow Him to be the Master over their lives.
No one is
unredeemable at the Potter’s House. He washes the filthy. He shines the dull.
He plasters the cracks. He sands the rough edges. He holds the unsteady and
fills the empty with His anointing. Yes, that Potter wants to restore your life
and make it anew. Jeremiah 30:17 “But I will restore you to health and heal your
wounds,” declares the Lord, “because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no
one cares.” (NIV) Where man keeps records of your past offenses, the
Potter throws them to the bottom of the sea – never to resurface again if only
you ask. Your record is waiting to be expunged at the Potter’s House. Court is
in session; the Potter is the Judge and Jury; Jesus is your Advocate; the
opposing counsel is the enemy, but the scales of justice is in your favor once
you’re at the Potter’s House. Why? Because Jesus’ blood caused your case to be
DISMISSED. The blood of Jesus expunges your record once you give your heart to
Him. Ephesians
1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God’s grace….(NIV)
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