Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Measure (01/10/13)
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TITLE: Letter to the Lamb | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dave Walker
01/15/13 -
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Are you acting out for me to see, the message from a different hill? When you said, “If he strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” is this what you meant? Is your battered face, barely human following the mocking taunts and blows, the epitome of your teaching? You said, “If he takes your cloak, give him your tunic also.” And now, constraining twelve legions of angels, you allow them to strip you naked and gamble for your clothes. Are you presenting your teaching in its fullness? “Blessed are the merciful,” you said from that same mount. Are you demonstrating that when, through white hot pain, you breathe forgiveness on those who inflict it? As you love your enemies in ways they do not understand, help me to understand.
Could it be that lest I thought I could embrace the radical paradigm that thundered from that hillside sermon, you are acting out, on a far lonelier hill the full extent of your message? Is this the standard that you set?
How do I respond to that, spotless Lamb? I am tempted to react in indignation and despair that you set me an impossible norm. But no, I could never contemplate that while, torn and bleeding, you ooze forgiveness! Rather I see, by both sermons, you are giving me the measure of your grace. The one forgiven much, loves much. By showing, and then bridging with your grace, the chasm that yawns from my depth to your height you empower me to love.
Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. In one hideous, beautiful act, flawless Substitute, you set a measure of perfection to show me how far I have fallen; then you take that failure on yourself to show the measure of your forgiveness.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” you said from that same hillside. Keep me humble in the enormity of your grace, that I may run with you in joyous freedom in your Kingdom.
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which is sufficient. The ending I felt could be reworked but was still beautiful. Good work.
sharon force
God bless~