My toilet read right now is The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning the visual addition. I bought it originally for the amazing art and graphic design that was all throughout it but I started reading the words and they were equally as captivating. There is one page/quote that stood out to me on something that I have been thinking about for quite a while. I think that all of us need to be this honest.
When a man or woman is truly honest (not just working at it) it is virtually impossible to insult them personally. There is nothing there to insult. Those who were truly ready for the kingdom were just such people. Their inner power of spirit and rigorous honesty had set them free. They were people who had nothing to be proud of.
There was the sinful women at the village who kissed Jesus’ feet. There was freedom in doing that. Despised as a prostitute, she had accepted the truth of her utter nothingness before the Lord. She had nothing to lose. She loved much because much had been forgiven her.
Only when people say truth or attack something that we are holding on dearly to do we feel offended or insulted. Only when we let go of those things will we be able to walk in the freedom of living in the Kingdom and not being dictated by what other people see or say about us.
I don’t have the visual book – but the Ragamuffin Gospel is one of my all time favourite books. I haven’t read it in at least 7 or 8 years and I can still think of passages from it taht have impacted me and changed my life. Beautiful read.
This book was one that kept me alive during my darkest of seasons. I really am eternally grateful to Brennan for being so honest and raw with his life.