One of my older friends from high school was a former member of the Crips. Like the attached video, this young black man left one of the famous gangs in New York City. However, in my friend’s case, his mother moved abruptly one night, afraid her son would never get out of this gang. Needless to say, no one at my high school ever messed with this dude as if anyone did, he could make a phone call and within 24 hours this person would be history.
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved ([c]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8.
From a spiritual perspective, it doesn’t matter who you’ve been associated with or where you’ve been in life as God’s grace is the great equalizer. All it takes to get right with God is a spirit of confession and contrition. As various prodigals finally come to their senses, God’s grace is new every morning, Lamentations 3:19-22. Therefore, as a new year begins, may God’s grace be constantly on your mind like the song by Trin-I-Tee 5:7.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 