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b'What\\u2019s a raider doing here?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d A tall recruit balled his fists, looking past the captain at the burly lizard-like figure in the bunkroom\\u2019s doorway.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Stand down, Nash,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d barked the captain. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153He\\u2019s got an official pardon from the Throne. Anyway, we need everyone we can get.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d He looked back at the figure and pointed to an empty bunk. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Settle in, Denzen. Training starts tomorrow.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nAs the captain left, Denzen placed his bag on his bunk. He was starting to unbutton his nav jacket when someone shoved him from behind. He turned. It was Nash. Two other recruits stood behind Nash with folded arms.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I thought so,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d growled Nash, pulling back Denzen\\u2019s jacket to reveal three black slashes in his yellow skin. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153It\\u2019s him.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nNash glared into Denzen\\u2019s red eyes.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153The emperor might think you\\u2019ve changed, but you can\\u2019t fool me. I was there when you led your Scalebacks in that attack on Solus.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I lost a brother when you torched that moon,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d said a recruit behind him.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Everyone lost someone,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d murmured the third recruit. \\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Especially when you blasted those refugee ships leaving Triton.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nNash shook his head. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Thousands of lives. Gone! And now you expect us to believe you\\u2019ll defend them.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nDenzen looked around the room at the many faces turned toward him.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I know it\\u2019s hard to believe I\\u2019ve changed. I can\\u2019t undo the damage I\\u2019ve done\\u2026 bring back those I killed. I can never deserve the emperor\\u2019s pardon. I\\u2019m deeply humbled by his trust. And I hope to serve him with you.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nAs Denzen lowered his head, most recruits turned away, murmuring, but Nash continued glaring.\\nDenzen extended his hand, but Nash ignored it. He tore the galaxy patch off Denzen\\u2019s jacket and threw it on the floor.\\nAs Nash strode away, Denzen bent to retrieve the patch. Standing, he caught a glimpse of the nearest moon through the ship\\u2019s window. He ran his fingers over the patch\\u2019s seams, remembering when the emperor gave it to him, and pressed the patch to his heart. \\u2022 Grace Geide\\n\\u2022 Today\\u2019s devotion is an allegory based on the apostle Paul\\u2019s experience after he started following Jesus. When other Christians heard that Paul\\u2014who had been zealously persecuting Christians\\u2014now claimed to be a follower of Jesus, they didn\\u2019t trust him. At least, not at first (Acts 12:25-13:3).\\n\\u2022 Have you ever thought God can\\u2019t use you because of your past sins? How can this story, and the life of Paul, give you hope?\\n\\u2022 Other than the apostle Paul, what other people in the Bible did God use despite their past sins?\\n\\u2022 What does the Bible say about God\\u2019s forgiveness? Read Psalm 103:10-12, Isaiah 1:18, and Acts 13:38-39.\\nThe grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nProverbs 31:1-8; Matthew 25:34-40; John 6:1-12'