Daily Power #183

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10)

I’m not proud of this, but before I was a Christian, I used to shoplift occasionally. In college, my buddy Stan and I even made a sport of it. At the end of spring semester, Mother’s Day was approaching, and I asked Mom what she wanted. She said she needed a pair of women’s running shorts, so Stan and I went to the top-of-the-line premiere store for women’s fashion, Montgomery Ward, to make the hit.

There I found the perfect pair of shorts for my mom. I hid behind one of those big round clothing racks and slipped them into my bag, relishing this sick rush of adrenaline. Then I casually walked out of the store and headed into the mall to meet Stan. Just as I reached the food court, suddenly someone grabbed my arm from behind—a security guy.

I was busted right there on the spot. It was a horrible, traumatic event, but it got my attention, reminding me that no one was above the law. I started seeing myself differently and wanted to be a better person. Seriously, what kind of guy steals his mom’s Mother’s Day present? By the grace of Jesus, I’m not the same person I was then.

We have all sinned against God, and we deserve death. The good news is, because of the grace of God, he doesn’t have to give us what we deserve. You’re not who you used to be.

What does God need to change in you?

Power Lift

Father, when the Enemy tries to taunt me with reminders of my past, let me stand strong in your power, as a new creation, your child saved by faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.