Monday, June 20, 2016

Violent Grace

My sister showed this to me today. I guess I wrote it for a devotional at some point. I don't even remember. Still, it's a piece of the journey we have been on with Mom. A journey that's coming to an end.


Matthew 27:31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his 
own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

There are a lot of things you can get used to when you live over seas:  the
 
food, the culture, and even the lack of a Wal-Mart. But, what you never
 
quite get used to is your distance from family. This hit us particularly
 
hard two years ago, when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 

Over the past two years we've watched as the disease has begun to slowly and
 
relentlessly steal the person Mom is. I can't think of a more evil ailment.
 
There's no chance of recovery, no medicine that can stop it and no hope of a
 
dignified death. In a deliberate and methodical way, it will turn an
 
intelligent, compassionate woman into a child unable to care for herself. 

Strangely, this viscous disease has reminded me of God's love. God's plan
 
for our salvation was just as deliberate, just as methodical and just as
 
painful. Matthew describes for us how the creator of the universe, full of
 
power and majesty, the One to whom angels sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy," was
 
stripped, beaten, laughed at and spit on. Christ was so determined, so
 
persistent in his pursuit of you and I that it cost him his dignity and his
 
life. He loved us so much, no measure was too extreme.

The account of Christ's death is difficult to read. It's especially
 
difficult when we consider all of it was an act of love by a God, who
 
possessed the power to end it, but more desperately longed for us to return
 
to him. A God who considers you more important than his dignity.

As you battle life's bitterness and brokenness remember you are
 
deliberately, powerfully and relentlessly loved.
 

Jeff Ingram  2/04

So ruthless he loves us so reckless his embrace
To show relentless kindness to a hardened human race
The joy that was before him on the man of sorrows face
And by his blood he bought a violent grace
 

A Violent Grace
 
Michael Card
 
2000 Mole End Music

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