When you've committed a terribly foolish mistake in life, you know you need grace. And God does - he always - has enough grace to forgive, sustain and restore a broken life. He embraces tenderly the one who comes to him in helplessness and places him on a place of dignity. He makes the sinner become truly human.

When trespasses have been committed and grace is much needed, it's often not God who's the problem - it's people who can't find the capacity within themselves to forgive. Repent all you want and submit all you want to the imposed disciplinary measures as an expression of your state of repentance, they'll never seem satisfied. They'll keep flogging you anyway.

They want your blood if they can have it. With their mouths they'll say they believe there's grace and restoration for the sinner, but with their hands they'll threaten to tear your limbs apart. And they'll keep reminding you how serious your sin is without in the same breath acknowledging they're just as depraved as you are. Had Jesus said in this day and age, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone", I suspect many people wouldn't think twice about picking up some big rocks and await their turns to cast them.

Many people can't find it in their hearts to offer grace when they see someone else committing a wrong which reflects the gravity of their own depravity, so they are bent on inciting wrath and inflicting continuous punishment. But despite this, I'll keep living my life in dignity, not because I think I've not wronged my Lord and my neighbour or trespassed against the virtues of the Kingdom life. At one time or another, we all have - particularly me. But I'll live my life in dignity because of the peace and confidence within me of the measure of God's love and forgiveness.

And amazingly, amidst the agony of rejection and despise, I have found friends who believe in me. Because they know my heart, they have pledged to remain committed to the friendship that we share despite the social cost of being associated with a despicable sinner. It's strange how my life is the same one story but provokes extremely different responses from various people. I suppose those who know grace know how best to offer it too, and those who don't... well, they just don't.

I fear not the fury of the jury, for they're merely incriminating a fellow criminal. They hate the image of themselves they see in me. You can take away my reputation, my ministry, my vocation, and even my life. But I challenge you - try taking away my steadfast confidence in my God... you just try.