Sunday, November 23rd,
2014
Lash! Lash! Lash! Torn skin. Throbbing back. Cruel voices screaming. “You’re worthless! Worthless! Nothing! Worthless, I say!” Lash, after terrible lash of the whip. Pain. So much pain even the tears cannot come. But worse than the pain is the shame. Over and over the words come: Worthless. Worthless. Worthless....
Forcing her mind to work and her eyes open, the young slave girl woke
herself out of her vivid nightmare. It
was enough that she had to endure such abuse during her waking hours; must she
live through it again each night? She
lay quietly on the straw-covered floor serving as a bed, staring into the
nothingness, willing her eyes to stay open.
Better a sleepless night than another foul dream, reminding her of her
worthlessness.
“Where is she?”
The words spoken so softly caught the girl’s attention faster than the
usual harsh tones ever had. It came from
outside her cabin. She wondered if perhaps
she had fallen asleep and was dreaming again.
Never had she heard such a gentle voice. Suddenly she heard footsteps just
outside. She quickly stood to her feet and
brushed away pieces of straw that insisted on clinging to her woolen skirt.
The door opened and light streamed in.
The girl bit her lip. Surely she
had slept far too late and was about to be punished. Two men entered. She shivered when she saw the outline of the
first man against the doorway…a figure she knew all too well. Her master.
Without even bothering to glance at the second figure she dropped to her
knees and bent her chin to the ground.
“Do
as you will,” she said through gritted teeth, “I have no excuse for my
slothfulness.”
A mocking laugh followed her comment, and then with a sneer, “See what
you are getting? A worthless nothing…can’t
even make herself get out of bed in the morning.”
It was her master who spoke. But
what could he mean?
She lowered her head, expecting a blow, but instead she felt someone
kneel in the hay before her and take her hand.
The figure stood and pulled her to her feet, refusing to let go his
firm but gentle grip on her hand. When,
in confusion, her eyes remained fixed to the floor, she felt his other hand lightly
touch her chin and raise her head. Her
frightened eyes met eyes so filled with love and kindness they brought tears to
her own.
Paying no attention to her leering master this man spoke directly to
her. “I have paid the required price, my
child. You are Mine once again.”
“Again, sir? I have been a worthless
slave here all my life…,” the girl replied.
“Again, my worthy child. You were mine from the beginning. This man has no claim on you. Come.
Come with me. With me you will
find rest. My yoke is easy and my burden
is light.”
Every second she was under
this man’s gaze the girl felt more and more wonderful. She felt special. She felt loved. But as soon as these feelings began to
surface, doubts arose. She was not
special. She was not loved. She was worthless. Nothing.
This man was confused. He must
mean someone else. The feelings of shame
and insignificance returned in a flood. The
girl could not turn her head or pull her hand away, so she lowered her
eyes. She could no longer endure such a
tender gaze.
“My child – do you not
see? I have paid the required
price. You are worthy, to me. That is
all that matters. You are what matters. Come
unlearn the lies with which this false master has filled your heart. Come hear the truth. Know that you are loved. You have been redeemed.”
Suddenly she
understood. Her eyes met His again, this
time with confidence. She was His.
She was loved. She was redeemed.
_________________________________________________
In your unfailing love you will lead the
people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them to
your holy dwelling.
Though not an
exact metaphor, the above story is what came to me as I meditated on the truth
that Jesus has redeemed us. Jesus has
redeemed me. Lost, worthless,
undeserving, He chose to come to this imperfect world and give His very own
life for me. He accepts me as I am, yes,
but He doesn’t just accept me. He bought me with His own blood. He loves me too much to leave me the way He
found me. He picked me up out of the
mud, cleansed me, and gave me a reason to hope.
Each new day He gives me a reason not to return to the mud. If that is not enough motivation to praise
Him, what is?
That keep telling me I’m not right
But that’s alright…
‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed
When others say I’ll never be enough…
Bring your doubts
Bring your fears
Bring your hurt Bring your tears
Bring your fears
Bring your hurt Bring your tears
There’ll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed.
You are holy, righteous and redeemed.
