Lately I have been struck by the enormity of God's grace. Not to say that I fully understand or grasp it, but there have been these defining moments where Iam utterly blown away by His mercy and love. Moments in my life where I blatantly said in my heart, "Lord, I don't care what you have to say, this is the way I want to walk." And instead of striking me down right there or turning His back on me forever, He stretched out His hand and gave me another chance to grasp it.
Manasseh was a king of Judah in the Old Testament. He was one of the worst kings and did evil in the sight of the Lord. He placed a carved idol in the House ofthe Lord, he openly worshiped false gods and led the people to do the same. He lived a life in blatant opposition to what the Lord commanded and led an entire nation away from the Lord.
2 Chronicles 33:10-13 says, "And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks and bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him: and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God."
Some people view God like He is out to get us or like He doesn't care what happens to us. But this is a far cry from the truth. God is the God ofRedemption. He desires that none should perish. Did you catch that? None. Hecame that we would have life and life to the full. He came to bind up the brokenhearted, to set the captives free, to give sight to the blind, to heal the sick.He came for you, for me, for that coworker that gets under your skin, that thick headed family member, the checker at the grocery store, the drunk on the corner with a sign, and every other person. But He didn't come to just save you. He came to save you and then use you to point others to Him. Don't miss out on what Christ has called us to. This life is but a vapor, here and then gone.
Manasseh was a king of Judah in the Old Testament. He was one of the worst kings and did evil in the sight of the Lord. He placed a carved idol in the House ofthe Lord, he openly worshiped false gods and led the people to do the same. He lived a life in blatant opposition to what the Lord commanded and led an entire nation away from the Lord.
2 Chronicles 33:10-13 says, "And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks and bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him: and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God."
Some people view God like He is out to get us or like He doesn't care what happens to us. But this is a far cry from the truth. God is the God ofRedemption. He desires that none should perish. Did you catch that? None. Hecame that we would have life and life to the full. He came to bind up the brokenhearted, to set the captives free, to give sight to the blind, to heal the sick.He came for you, for me, for that coworker that gets under your skin, that thick headed family member, the checker at the grocery store, the drunk on the corner with a sign, and every other person. But He didn't come to just save you. He came to save you and then use you to point others to Him. Don't miss out on what Christ has called us to. This life is but a vapor, here and then gone.
