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Aug 24, 2023 06:00am

Settling Out of Court

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“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.”
1 Peter 3:18a (AMP)

I saw a billboard recently. It read, “I danced like no one was watching and my court date is Monday.” I giggled, but let’s be clear, there’s rarely anything humorous about presenting our personal cases for public examination and judgment. Luckily, I haven’t spent a lot of time in courtrooms, but I clearly remember taking a fifth-grade field trip to broaden my students’ understanding of our court system. While we filed in and took our reserved seats in the courtroom, we discovered that one student and I would be sitting next to some unhappy attendees. As one inmate approached the judge, he bent down and told one student, “Just so you know, I ain’t guilty.” To which my bright pupil answered, “Yeah, that’s what they all say!”

Guilty…that’s us on our best days! We just don’t plead it often enough. Whether it’s the minor traffic infraction, or the poor decision with greater collateral damage, we qualify for consequences. We simply don’t get to pick them. Ever since The Garden, we have tried to excuse our guilt. Choosing our council matters. Be reminded, in selecting representation, you are literally paying someone who writes a 15,000-word document and then labels in a “brief”. Trusting said person with your future seems scarier than solitary confinement.

Margaret Thatcher is quoted as saying, “Constitutions have to be written on hearts, not just paper.” Sounds a lot like Proverbs 4:23, “As above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

When evidence mounts and penalties are steep, make certain your Council is Christ (1 John 2:1). His plan secured our release and redemption.

It is said that the answer to every question in law school is “It depends.” What do our life decisions depend on? Where do our cases rest? Who is our source of representation or advocate when we find ourselves justly or unjustly accused? Telling someone you will see them in court may be the adult version of “I’m telling Mom”, but all too often the 12-member jury is determining the better lawyer, not justice for the exhibits submitted. That’s why closing arguments often cry out for mercy, not justice. Which is exactly what God offers us when we accept the gift of His Son. Accepting Jesus guarantees no need for plea bargaining, but offers an abundance of grace!

Is there enough evidence to convict you as a Christ-follower? Are you hoping or confident in standing there before The Judge? Is your case sealed by His blood? Be sure. Confess, posture yourself to receive His forgiveness, and remain teachable. No condemnation presented. No need for settling out of court. Case dismissed.