Grace That Transforms Everything

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

I was thinking about Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, particularly Jean Valjean, who was essentially imprisoned for stealing bread to feed his family. After he was released, he tried to find an honest way to get food and shelter. Everyone turned him away. Eventually, he found his way into a bishop's home. There, he was treated with kindness. He was fed and given a place to sleep.

Instead of receiving that grace and building a new life based on honor, while the bishop slept, Jean Valjean crept through the house and loaded up a sack full of the bishop's silver. He planned to sell it for money so he could survive and start over. It wasn't honorable, but desperation had driven him to it.

In the morning, the bishop is greeted at the door by the police, who bring Jean Valjean to him with the sack. They say, "We caught this man, and he has stolen your silver." The bishop responds, "Oh, you found him? Why did you not take the candlesticks too? I had given you all this silver, and I was giving you the candlesticks as well, and you didn't take them."

The policemen asked, "You mean he didn't steal these things from you? You gave them to him?" He said, "I gave them to him, but he didn't take the candlesticks." Once the police released him and they were alone, the bishop said, "Jean Valjean, I have bought your salvation. I have bought your freedom. Now, go and live an honorable life with the money that you will get from all of this silver. Go make an honorable life."

This turning point in the story shows a man who was going down one road, and through the gracious gift of a bishop, he is transformed and begins to build an honorable life in response to that bishop's gift.

Similarly, though we don't earn our salvation, instead, we have the chance to show our gratitude for what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. While salvation cannot be bought, we can demonstrate our appreciation through how we live for Him.

Reflection Question: How has God's undeserved grace in your life motivated you to live differently, just as the bishop's grace transformed Jean Valjean?

Dear Heavenly Father, You gave me salvation, a new life, and a new identity. Help me never to take this grace for granted. I want to live an honorable life as a response to Your gracious gift. In Jesus' Name, amen.