Library Fines
March 14, 2016
Ephesians 1:6-7 “So we praise God for the glorious grace
he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our
freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”
I’m a big fan of public libraries. Over the years I’ve checked out hundreds of books, especially for reading to my children. I’ll admit that sometimes I’m late returning my books, and the fines add up, but ultimately I’m glad to pay because the privilege of checking out books is worth much more to me. The city of San Jose is reporting that their library is owed $6.8 million in overdue fines. The problem is they can’t collect it, because people who know they owe a lot just stop using the library. 40% of the library cards they have issued are now inactive. It defeats the whole purpose of having a library if people don’t use it. Some people treat church that way. At one time they worshiped God, but they have done things they are not proud of, and now they feel too guilty or ashamed to come back to worship.But that’s a huge misunderstanding. The whole point of church is that God wants to be in relationship with us. Jesus has already paid our
“fines” through his death on the cross. His blood paid for what we could never pay for ourselves. Don’t let your overdue guilt keep you from accepting the grace that God offers.
he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our
freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”
I’m a big fan of public libraries. Over the years I’ve checked out hundreds of books, especially for reading to my children. I’ll admit that sometimes I’m late returning my books, and the fines add up, but ultimately I’m glad to pay because the privilege of checking out books is worth much more to me. The city of San Jose is reporting that their library is owed $6.8 million in overdue fines. The problem is they can’t collect it, because people who know they owe a lot just stop using the library. 40% of the library cards they have issued are now inactive. It defeats the whole purpose of having a library if people don’t use it. Some people treat church that way. At one time they worshiped God, but they have done things they are not proud of, and now they feel too guilty or ashamed to come back to worship.But that’s a huge misunderstanding. The whole point of church is that God wants to be in relationship with us. Jesus has already paid our
“fines” through his death on the cross. His blood paid for what we could never pay for ourselves. Don’t let your overdue guilt keep you from accepting the grace that God offers.
– Ken Roach, Content Development