What’s your favorite part of the day? For me, it’s mornings. I love taking early morning walks in my neighborhood. The quiet streets, the sun peeking over the rooftops, the birds chirping. It is a peaceful time. Usually . . .

Recently, I was enjoying a leisurely walk and was about to cross the street when I saw something that caused me to jump straight up in the air. There at the edge of the curb lay a flattened, dead squirrel. The muscles in my face cringed in disgust as I gingerly raised my foot far and wide from the filthy carcass. However, before my foot even touched the ground, I heard God speak to my heart.

“Why are you so repulsed? Don’t you realize you were in that same condition when I found you?”

Wow. What a visual!

Has God ever tapped you on the shoulder at the strangest moment to teach you something? 

We All Need Redemption

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he reminds us that at one time, we were all far from God. We were all dead in our transgressions and living in darkness (Ephesians 2:1, 13; 5:8). The prophet Isaiah tells us that our sin has shriveled us like a leaf and our deeds are like filthy rags. Our enemies have left us trampled and stepped on (Isaiah 64:46, 51:23). And yet, God’s Word encourages us with this reminder.

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11b)

Praise God that no one is out of God’s reach. God extends His mercy to all!

Every Soul is Precious to God

God used that flattened squirrel to teach me to never confuse the messy condition of someone’s life with the value of that person’s soul. Though his life may be broken, bleeding, foul, and rotting on the outside, his soul remains precious in God’s sight. And God is not only willing, but actively seeks, all who would turn to Him and be saved.

Picture Jesus on the Cross: though holy and without sin, He was insulted, beaten, broken, bleeding, “trampled underfoot,” and abandoned to the grave. His outward condition caused many to turn away – even in disgust – yet that same body veiled the eternal Son of God within. In the same way, when God looks upon us, it is our precious soul that God sees. Every one of us is made “in the image of God” and valuable to Him.

And because only God can see the soul He loves, we, as His redeemed, are called to share the Good News with all who are made in His image – even if their outer lives appear as hopeless as road kill. For we must never forget that “such were some of you.” (1 Corinthians 6:10-11)

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3 NIV)

Shadia is a passionate Bible teacher, author and speaker who has a heart for seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word. She holds a master’s in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary and is author of several books and Bible studies.

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