Devotional – A Wretch? by Keona J Tann

Amazing Grace is one of our most recognised songs, it was written in 1779 by John Newton and its message of forgiveness and redemption still rings true today, touching many lives.

There is a line within that lovely hymn that has confused me for some time: That saved a wretch; like me!
Merriam-Webster defines wretch as a miserable person, someone who is profoundly unhappy or experiences great misfortune; or a wretch can be a vile person, a baddie, a beast, a brute, a rascal, a scallywag, a scoundrel…… I felt indignation rise up within me, declaring: “surely I’m not a wretch? I mean I haven’t done anything that bad, I’ve never killed someone and I’ve tried to live a good life, be kind and all that so surely I’m not a wretch?”

God’s Standards

As I sat struggling with the phrase of wretch I watched the movie Fireproof, my heart began to beat faster as I heard these words being spoken:

“If we consider that we are good people, remember that God judges us not with our standard, but by His standard. His standards are so high, He considers hatred to be murder… and lust to be adultery. If you broke one of His commandments, one day you’ll answer Him for that.”

“He considers hatred to be murder” oh how many times had I allowed anger to spiral into hatred? My heart filled with dread because it is too many times to possibly count. Suddenly I saw my wretchedness and what an awful vision came to mind..

Christ’s Accuser

I saw myself transported back in time, I could feel the crowd pressing around me, I could feel the anger in their hearts and found my own was filled with indignation, it was burning and raging hot in my chest. It arose to such a ferocity that I joined in the cry: ‘crucify Him!’. I saw myself standing there with a whip in my hand and I watched as blind fury forced me to lash His back over and over and over again. I saw myself as hatred rose up and slurred out insult after insult. I watched and laughed as He writhed in pain, the thorns biting into His skull. I saw Him stumble and carry that heavy burden in the shape of a cross, but no compassion or mercy did He receive from me. I laughed and mocked as I nailed Him to that cross and my ears were deaf to His cry: “Father forgive her, for she does not know what she does.’ In response I cried out: ‘hah I have no need of Your mercy, go on save Yourself if You’re the Messiah!’. I fought over His meagre things and a small spark of triumph entered my chest as I stood outside His tomb. But how quickly the ‘victory’ left my chest, how quickly my eyes opened and saw clearly what I had done. Horror and a trembling fear entered my heart.

I stood and held my breath. I was indeed a wretch!
Oh how blind my eyes had been, oh how deaf my ears.
Oh no! I had crucified the very One who had come to save me.
I wounded Him each time I ignored His calls.
I mocked Him each time I chose my own path.
I broke His heart when I spurned His love.

Forgiveness?

How could I ever be forgiven?
Could He really ignore my cruelty, my ignorance, my pride?
Could He really ever embrace a wretch like me?
What surprise and wonder filled my heart as I saw Him reach for my trembling hand, He lifted my bowed head and pulled me into an embrace as He declared: “Yes! I love even a wretch like thee. My dear precious one, I died to set you free.”

Hebrews 4, verses 12 to 16, explains that God’s Word is alive and active, it discerns our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. No one and nothing is hidden from His sight. ALL things are seen, they are exposed to His eyes, and we are accountable to God. I know that God’s piercing gaze is unsettling, it causes our hearts to fear as conviction settles upon us, but the glorious Good News is that

[bctt tweet=”Jesus understands our faults and our failings and offers us grace, forgiveness and freedom from the past! Keona J Tann” username=”acwriters”]

All we need to do is believe that Jesus is Who He says He is – the Messiah, the anointed One sent to save us. When we believe with our hearts that Jesus is our risen Lord then we can boldly approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy, grace and help in our time of need.

Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus, thank You for deeply understanding my faults and failings, thank You for offering me grace, forgiveness and freedom from my past mistakes. Thank You for dying upon the cross, for offering up Your body and shedding Your blood, to set me free from my sins. I praise You, for You rose again and I thank You for offering me a place within Your Kingdom. Thank You for saving a wretch such as me! Thank You that I can now approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy, grace and help in my time of need. Lord, I need You more than ever, come and deal with every aspect of my rebellious and stubborn nature; please make me more and more like You. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.

Do you believe that Jesus understands your faults and failings? Do you understand that He offers you grace, forgiveness and freedom from the past? I pray that today you can know Jesus in a fresh way and feel His grace pouring over you.

Many blessings,
Keona

Notes:

Definitions: https://www.definitions.net/definition/amazing+grace, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wretch
Fireproof quote: http://www.callmefay.com/fireproof-movie-inspiring-quotes
Amazing Grace hymn: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/313
42 Bible verse related to grace: https://dailyverses.net/grace