Daily Devotional – 10/30/11 “What’s the verdict?”

Prosecutor: The Devil
Defendant: Saint Christian
Judge: God
Charges: accused of lying, backbiting, judging others, digging ditches for folk, talking about folk, playing church and robbing God.

Opening statements –
Prosecutor– Well you’re honor we are here today because the defendant has been accused of the charges that have been read. I will offer evidence to back up this claim that Saint Christian hasn’t been what he claims to be. He says he is a Christian but I will call witnesses who have firsthand knowledge of the worldly behavior Saint shows outside of church. I’ve pulled his record and you will see for yourself that he’s guilty and wasting this courts time. You will see without a doubt that this is an open and shut case and he shall be found guilty and placed into my custody. He’s already half in the world anyway so cast him out and I’ll have a place for him.

Defendant: Yes, you’re honor I haven’t always done what I’m supposed to do and I sometimes go where I shouldn’t go. I know I’ve made a commitment to leave the world, I don’t study my bible like I should, I don’t go to bible study & Sunday school and I sometimes backslide when I shouldn’t but if you would give me one more chance, I’ll change. I know that I sometimes wish bad on my brothers and sisters, I don’t pray for folk when they ask, I dig ditches for others and that I hate when I should love and I know that you’ve heard this all before but.. But you’re honor, please you’re honor, I ….

The prosecution laughs at the idea of him changing. He begins to enter into evidence pictures of him clubbing on Saturday night with a drink in his hand. He has witnesses present and statements from them so called friends, to testify that he is neither trustworthy nor accountable. He offers into evidence his lack of praise during worship service, the texting that he does while Pastor is preaching and the eye rolling at Sis. Ruth because you don’t like the dress she is wearing. Yes, he knows that Saint Christian is guilty and he ask the judge to say it! He already has his uniform ready and space available in his camp. He shouts, “Judge, I rest my case!”

Saint, again, pleads his case. He tells the judge that even though he is out on Saturday night and then comes dragging into church, he still comes. He tells the judge that he was going to pay tithes but seen this & that in the store that he just had to have and decided he’d pay them later. He knows that he can’t serve two masters and need to choose what side he is on but he thought he would have more time to get it together. He didn’t realize that time was almost up. He says that he doesn’t have any witnesses to his character and evidence of the good he sometimes do but he is willing to change. He says “Judge, please..!”

The judge begins to deliver his ruling and starts by saying – “You’ve both presented a good case so far and I’ve heard enough. Mr. Prosecutor, I know that you’ve come to condemn this person because of their wrongdoing but I can’t allow you too. See, in my word I say that a just man may fall 7 times but he can get back up. Doesn’t Bro./Sis. Christian deserves the same? Didn’t I forgive the woman at the well who was committing adultery? Didn’t I protect the 3 Hebrew boys who were thrown into the fire? Didn’t I heal the woman who had a issue of blood, raise folk from the dead, give sight to the blind, deliver a multitude from the hands of their attacker, part the red sea in the mist of adversity, heal bodies and protect Daniel while he was in the lions den? If I can do all these things, surely I can hear and deliver the plight of Saint Christian!

Saint Christian, please rise for your verdict. Do you have anything else to offer this court? Saint Christian slowly rises and with tears streaming down his face he begins to speak but before he can, the judge cuts him off to ask; Bro/Sis Christian, are you willing to walk for me, will you go even if you don’t feel like going and if you have to go by yourself? Will you be a vessel of my word and will you be willing to witness to those in need? Will you repent when you fall because there will be days that you do? When you get knocked down, will you get up instead of giving up? Will you believe in me and my word? Will you weather the storms that’ll come in your life and will you praise me through it? Will you stop playing church before it is too late? Will you sacrifice your life for me? Now, I need you to think before you answer because this is a lifelong commitment.

Saint Christian shouts “Yes God! I’m willing and able to stand in your army and if you give me another chance I’ll fight for you until I die!”

The prosecutor hollers, “It’s a lie and you can’t believe what he says! You must find him guilty and hand him over to me!”

God says, “Saint Christian, your sins have been forgiven because I’ve already paid the price. If you’re willing to be mine, then I find you Not Guilty! If you praise me and seek me and honor my commandments, I find you not guilty and you are free to go!”

The prosecutor shouts as he’s leaving, he’ll be back before the court so I’m not worried!