Radical Rebel, Radical Love

Radical Rebel, Radical Love by Alissa Stine

 "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Romans 6:1-4

 Lord, are the red letters you spoke so vibrant because each word spoken in humility absorbed the scarlet stains of my sin?

Or is it because the crimson pouring of your love came not just from your body crucified, but dripped from your lips like milk and honey in a promised land?

But, oh, my Jesus, if only we realized then

If only I realized then, my Lord

You

Are the Promised Land

Even the brightest lights and stars before I knew You

Have grown strangely dim

But how could I be surprised,

When the outlook of the cliff's edge on the broad way was incredibly grim?

I was nothing but a prodigal child 

Running lawless and wild

I was the staple volatile and mercurial

Unaware, and stiff necked, on a fast track to a hellfire burial

I was scarred and battle-worn in the enmity between us

And per the fallen's command I had a mind desiring my return to dust 

Despair and pride was where it started

Together they bred a mistrust of the hands that made me and kept my heart guarded

In the broken fortress my sins built, worship of idols and pagan gods left not just my heart, but my soul blackened

And more bitter tasting fruit on a wilting vine was quickened

Not knowing who I was, but still ravenously searching to be known

Further built the pyre to my pride and shackled me in sexual immorality and abuse, and ignited a new sensation courtesy of my rebellion against design

"GOD, I FEEL SO ALONE!"

The feeling was like drowning, and one foot hanging over the abyss

My heart's cry felt unheard, and a devil whispered that I would never be missed

On a dark night with nothing but an empty house and a blade beside me

I decided to leap, but a man, pierced for my transgressions, jumped ahead blindly

I was so stunned by what I had heard and seen, that, to every dark thing, I was awakened

The weight of all I carried, in a split second, was recklessly taken

Even the burdens of all my vile addictions

Like a lamb to slaughter, this man took the price tag on all my afflictions

In a series of meetings with someone who called me "Daughter", I found myself in debt

He loved me so much, but how could I ever pay His Son back?

He had put His mark on me that day, but I returned it with nine lashes, each with a resounding crack

When I was falling, He pulled me up by my hands

But I hammered cold nails deep into his

How could He ever continue to see beauty in this wretchedness?

His sacrifice is nothing short of complete perfectness

Because, I forced you to walk to your death

Yet, when I was ready to ensure mine,

You stopped me

And gave me your breath

I've never known a love like this!

Nothing about it makes sense!

And none of it ever did,

Until I heard the words of life spoken in the book of John

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

A love like that?

It demanded a response

I turned my back on everything I had

Because what was a gain to me, was a loss to Christ

And he's already paid enough

A pursuit of me, became a pursuit of him

With my life and background, the chances of new life like this felt incredibly slim

For a radical freedom given, we should choose to live radically free

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:12-13)

We are saved by a single cross

Surrounded by broken chains

Bore by a man we can all come to know

Because after three days, a stone was rolled away

And my LORD, walked free and alive

And if you're not sure yet how to respond,

The only right response is to 

REPENT

AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL

Conviction:

We are saved from the power, penalty, and practice of sin.

Practical Challenge:

-Read any of the four gospels.

-Spend time in prayer that God and the Holy Spirit would reveal to you the sins in your life, and repent of them.

-Seek wise counsel from a spiritual authority in your life; be vulnerable in confessing your sins.

-Pick a reliable and trustworthy friend that has a strong walk with Jesus, and be accountability buddies and prayer partners with them.