A friend recently told me how he was helping someone out with some work. The person asked for a lift to the shop and, while he was inside, the man stole some money from his car. Naturally, my friend was hurt and angry. It’s hard to show kindness only to be betrayed. But it reminded me of a powerful story in Les Misérables. A man, just released from prison and turned away by everyone, is given shelter by a kind bishop. In return, he steals the bishop’s valuable silver and flees. Caught by the police and dragged back, the bishop shocks everyone by saying the silver was a gift—and then hands him two more valuable candlesticks, saying he forgot those. It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? But the real twist is this: we are the thief. We’ve wronged God in far worse ways and yet received far greater mercy. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) His love was not a reaction to our goodness but a gift in our guilt. The bishop told the man to use the silver to build a better life. God says the same to us. How will you pass on this same crazy mercy? (Craig B) Open Bible – https://bit.ly/Rom5v8
