Ask the guy in prison, and he’ll tell us he didn’t do the crime. Not even if he's guilty.
If we offer him the chance to work it off in a halfway house, he’s not interested. He’d be admitting to his guilt.
The gal locked away? Innocent, she cries, and how come no one believes she wasn’t there when the house was robbed? No, she won’t make restitution, not for something she claims she didn’t do.
Even when we have proof.
The gavel slams down: Guilty as charged! Throw away the key!
Yes, we will be found guilty as charged, and prison will be our due. We can only make it better if we own up and accept our crime.
1 Timothy 5:8 addresses our families:
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Guilty as charged! Now let’s get some groceries on the table.
Hosea 13:16 speaks to our attitudes:
“Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God.”
Guilty as charged! Showing up at church isn’t enough. We have to accept Christ’s kingship and give ourselves fully unto him.
2 Kings 8:12 speaks to our relationships with our fellow Christians:
“And Hazael said, ‘Why does my lord weep?’ He answered, ‘Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel.’ ”
Guilty as charged! We may not admire everything we see in the church, but treating others well is what Christ would do.
Hebrews 10:26 flays us to the bone:
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”
Guilty as charged! God cries, “Stop it! I’ve told you already. Admit you’re wrong and make restitution. I want to set you free, and I can’t as long as you won’t change your ways.”
God wants to get us off. He wants to release us from our handcuffs. He wants to throw open the prison doors and send us into the light. First, however, we have to admit our guilt, and change our ways.
When we begin to truly walk with Christ, he will charge us up with his power so that we can go unto the world and win the lost to him. That’s an accusation we want to be guilty of. We want to stand before God’s throne and hear him say, “Guilty as charged! You are vindicated by the cheers of the throngs you led to me. Job well done!”
When we’re charged with Jesus, his power will leap from our fingertips to everyone who happens by.
Copyright © 2016 MyChurchNotes.net
Code: FGO.K.18.15.vp.esv