The Monday After: Son of God, Son of Man {Sheryll}

You know that Sunday feeling, right?

We leave the church building inspired and filled with Truth and encouragement on Sundays … and somewhere along the course of the week, pieces of the message tend to fade and we often lose that Sunday feeling.

The Monday After {the Sunday Sermon} carries the Sunday message into Monday mornings by sharing how what we’ve heard on Sunday morning is making a difference in our Mondays, our weeks, our lives. Because of your generosity to Accelerate, we are able to share these stories! Thank you!

The Monday After Sunday,April 27, 2014 : Son of God, Son of Man {click HERE to listen!}

By Sheryll Belonga

It was her third offense.  She had already been in front of this judge before, and he told her that the next time the outcome would not be in her favor.  As she walked into the courtroom her head hung low.  You could see the shame and the guilt that weighed upon her.  She lifted her head as she got close to her seat and you could see the tears that were welling up in her eyes.  She tried to hold them back but the fear of her impending consequence overwhelmed her.  Thoughts ran through her mind of how foolish she was to do the same thing over and over again.  It was as if there was something pulling her in the wrong direction while at the same time something else tugged at her heart.  At times the temptations were too strong, and she could not resist, thus leading her once again down the path of destruction.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Cass.

The officer of the court asked everyone to rise and prepare for the entrance of the judge.  Around the room were those who bore witness to her crimes as well as those who hoped for mercy to be bestowed upon her.  The judge entered the room and allowed everyone to be seated, everyone that is, except her.  She stood there shaking, so weak from the pain of disappointment that troubled her soul.  She felt empty and broken beyond repair. 

 

The judge asked her if she had representation.  She desired to have someone present that could support her and plead her case but no one would do it.  Most agreed that it was time for her to suffer the consequences of her actions.  She opened her lips that were wet from the tears that had fallen around her face but before she could speak a gentleman walked into the room.  He spoke up and said that he would go before the judge on her behalf.  Her vision was blurred from her tears so this person wasn’t clear to her yet.  As he walked closer she was surprised to see that he wasn’t a lawyer at all but a regular person.  She wanted his help but how could someone who looks just like her go before someone so powerful.

The man spoke softly but you could feel the authority in his voice because the room grew quiet and listened intently.  He said he understood her challenges and he knew her struggles.  He confessed that he had been tempted just as she and he felt her fears.  He admitted that living life without breaking a few rules wasn’t easy, and he knew her heart.  He knew that she wanted to do the right thing as a battle raged on inside her and that he had the answer.

He turned to her and told her that if she would trust him he could give her some help.  He could place someone in her life that would walk with her along the way.  He said that he would place escape routes all around her that would allow her to quickly leave any situation.  All she had to do was choose.  She accepted his offer still unsure of what the final outcome would be.  Then turned to face the judge who was about to reveal her destiny.

In her mind she thought clearly there was no way the judge would give her another chance.  The gentleman spoke well but this wasn’t her first offense.  The judge cleared his throat to break the silence that filled the room and then unexpectedly, said three powerful words to her, “you … are … free.”

Sheryll Belonga is wife to Jurrell and homeschooling mom to their three great boys. Her hearts desire is to glorify God in all she says and does in spite of life’s daily happenings.