Thursday, August 15, 2002
Thursday, August 15, 2002
For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is
abundant through Christ.
Neither will a new sense of self-esteem. Self-esteem is vital but it is not sufficient. Ronald
Allen writes in THE MAJESTY OF MAN: "Speaking of self-esteem as man's greatest need is
akin to an observer at a funeral parlor remarking, "How wonderfully lifelike" as he views the
corpse. We need to face the issue squarely: Dead people need life, not make-up. Fallen
people need redemption, not self-esteem. Jesus did not come to earth to make dead people
feel better."
Christ came into the world to give dead people life. He came to give people an entirely new
nature. He came to show us the beautiful persons we can become. He came to offer us a
magnificent gift--the gift of abundant life here and now.
(2 Corinthians 1.5
NRSV)
We hear someone say, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." For most people,
however, that is a lie. For most people, tomorrow will be as hopeless as today. They don't
need simply a new positive attitude. They need a new nature--a nature that comes only when
we confess our unworthiness and ask the Lord of all the universe to come into our lives and
give us a new nature. A positive attitude by itself won't make it.
Dear God, thank you for the abundant life you have given to me. Help me to live it today.
Amen.
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