Summary: In Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables,” there is a character who doesn’t show grace – Javert. And, there is a character who is willing to show grace - Valjean. In one part of the story, there was a poor woman working in Valjean’s factory. She was a single mother. When it was discovered that she had a child out of wedlock she was let go and forced into prostitution. One night she is attacked, and Javert arrests her rather than her attacker. When these things are made known to Valjean, he quickly comes to her aid. Because he is a man of grace, he makes it clear that he would not have fired her simply because of society’s expectations. He gets her out of trouble, takes care of her, and goes the extra mile to make sure she and her daughter are cared for. Society would have told him to stay away from a woman with her reputation, but he helped her because he was a man of grace. He didn’t follow society’s rules- he followed God. Jesus was a man of grace too- setting aside the rules of His era and living to love other people and glorify the Father. What about us? Are you more concerned with the rules society prescribes than loving others as Jesus does? The Bible says we love because “He first loved us.” Will you love others this week- no matter the expectations or condemnations of others? This is Jesus’ way.
