Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
They are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
(Romans 3.24
NRSV)
We know that subjective experience on its own can be misleading. But when you combine that experience with the testimony of those who walked with him and died for him two thousand years ago as well as the testimony of millions of others over the centuries who also have experienced his healing and life giving power in their lives, we are led to cry out with Thomas, "My Lord and my God."
If you have not had that kind of experience of Christ, might I invite you to open yourself to him this day? A simple prayer of faith is all that is required.
An elderly lady walked slowly into a life insurance office in Minneapolis during the worst part of the Great Depression. She wanted to know if she could stop paying the premiums on her husband's life insurance policy. "He's been dead sometime now," she said, "and I don't believe I can afford making the payments any more."
The clerk behind the desk looked up her husband's policy and discovered it was worth several hundred thousands of dollars. This poor lady was wealthy, but she had no idea. No one had ever explained to her how life insurance works.
Perhaps no one has ever explained to you that as a disciple of Jesus Christ, you too are rich. He is available to you his love, his power, his joy. You can experience his presence in you life beginning this moment. Why? Because he is who he says he is. He is our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord.
God of peace, help us to believe there is no situation so hopeless that cannot be transformed by your grace in Jesus Christ. Amen.
