As I mentioned last week, I’ll be going to see Third Day in concert on May 6 and so am sharing some of my favorite songs of theirs for Music Monday between now and the concert. Today’s offering is from their Wire CD and is called Innocent.
From a purely musical standpoint, I love how this song starts slowly and quietly, then builds to the chorus: “I am innocent.” Mark Lee’s guitar work is awesome and Mac Powell’s voice is beautiful.
But I also love this song because of the message it brings. Innocent speaks to me because there was definitely a time in my life when I thought I was out of second chances. I was so lost and depressed. I felt I had no hope. My life had no meaning or purpose.
But then Christ came into my life and opened my eyes to the truth of His love and mercy. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, I am innocent in the eyes of God. I no longer have chains holding me back or keeping me down. He gave me a brand new life of faith and hope.
This song reminds me of a passage in Luke:
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” [Isaiah 61:1-2]
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:16-21 (NIV).
Jesus came as a fulfillment of prophecy that had been written down hundreds of years before His birth. But more importantly, He came to free those who are in bondage to sin and pride, to give sight to those who are blinded to God’s truth.
Are you feeling hopeless today? Do you feel like you are out of second chances, like a dead person walking? Do you feel shame and guilt about the life you have lived thus far, and believe there is no way to escape your bondage? Set those feelings aside and seek the Lord. He has come to set you free today. He has come to open your eyes to see His love and mercy. He has come to declare you innocent because your debt has been paid.