In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.
Jeremiah 52:31-34 (NIV)
Father God, thank You for the glimmers of grace that You show me in my life. Like Jehoiachin before me, I know that I have not been faithful, and in some instances have done evil in Your eyes (2 Kings 24:9). Like him, my sins have resulted in bad things happening to those whom I love and have been called to serve. And like him, in many instances my past mistakes have resulted in me being bound and imprisoned.
Yet, like him, LORD, You saw me in my pitiful state. And You raised up a glorious King Who saw me also. He saw me imprisoned in my sins and had mercy on me. And through this marvelous King, You released me from my bondage. And frankly, that would have been enough. But You went above and beyond! You gave me a seat of honor at His glorious table. Like the prodigal before me, You stripped me of my cloaks of shame and adorned me with the robes set aside for Your children. You called me Your own! And for the rest of my life, and into eternity, I will feast at the King’s table! And if that was not enough, You give me everyday what I stand in the need of in order to live! Who is like You?
Today, I just thank You for loving me especially when I was most unlovable. Thank You for releasing me from the bondage of sin, cleaning me up, and giving me a place at the Great Feast. Thank You for writing my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, sealing me with the Holy Spirit, and applying my glorious Savior’s blood to my account. Thank You for seeing through my brokenness, speaking kindly to my heart, and loving me with Your everlasting love. Thank You for calling me Your own! Glory to Your Name! Amen!