Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday April 1, 2010

I received a note from a long time friend who informed me that he would no longer be considered a "Prayer Warrior" the title of those who help me on a regular basis. This decision is due to my willingness to help individuals who have hit bottom due to their actions. I agree with my departing friend in that these people are guilty of despicable sins, yet I am of the opinion that Christ died for all sins. I certainly agree with my friend's repulsion by the acts of these men and women for that matter. Yet.

Another longtime friend, George Monday, wrote a brief note on the social media, Facebook, and touched many. Here it is for your thought today:

"If you saw a $20 lying in the mud, all crumpled and tracked on, you would pick it up. Why? Because no matter that it is dirty and wrinkled, it still has value, not because of how it looks but because of what it is. And you, believer, regardless of how you look or how life/people are treating you, still have value, not because of how you look or what you do, but because of who you are."

George applies the illustration to believers and I certainly agree with him on this as believers can have all the problems as the lost if we fail to stay close to our redeemer. Yet we can sing "Resue the perishing, care for the dying" as long as we are singing about lost folks who are NOT guilty of whatever WE list as unforgivable. The list for Christians who sin is much longer.

God has no such list as the record (Bible) gives assurance in 1 John 1:7;

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

I have known George for at least 35 years as a pastor and layman who has suffered much, not as a certified sinner, but one who has been beaten to near pulp due to his departure from what a mountain preacher called, "The chimney corner rules of the group." George walks with Christ in harmony with the tenets of historic Christianity, but several years ago he woke up and threw off the yoke placed on the neck of folks within his former group. He has paid a high price, but liberty of any kind always demands a high price. The only position in life that demands a higher price is enslavement.

Perhaps you have fallen or even dived into a cesspool and many speak with disgust of you and to you. When Christ walks by He will lift you out of the miry clay, because you are one for whom He died.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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