I watched a wreck of an individual walk up to the front of the church auditorium where he repented of his sins and asked Jesus into his heart. For most of his life Joe* had been an alcoholic, and was verbally abusive to his wife, children and employees. He did not have any friends and the people that knew him best avoided him the most. Everything in his life changed that day...God did the impossible and he became new creation. His wife did not trust his decision to become a Believer and waited patiently for him to revert back to his former ways.
Joe's whole family waited...they didn't want to embrace this new creation, because they were afraid to hope for such a miracle. But, the miracle working power of God continued to purge the old creature and replaced the familiar sins with new virtues. A few years passed and it became obvious to all, Christ had created a whole new creation. Joe asked if he could say a short word to the congregation on a Sunday morning. As he walked up the stairs to the platform, people began to cheer and clap their hands, and spontaneously people stood to their feet. Before a word was spoken, everyone affirmed the miracle that God had performed in the life that stood before them.
Many psychologists believe that people do not have the power to fundamentally change. That by age 36 we are "locked" into whoever and whatever we are going to forever be. That might indeed be the way of things in most cases; however, I have witnessed the transforming power of Christ over and over again. I have seen the power of sin instantly broken and replaced with God birthed fruit. As I witness the lives of people that have been radically "saved" I am reminded that with God, "All things are possible!"
Prayer: "Dear Father, You are all powerful and can change those things that are thought to be beyond hope. You are persistent in Your love and consistent with Your grace. Lord, help me to persevere in my prayers for those that do not know You; and cause me to remember that even the hardest cases are not beyond Your power to reach. Thank you for changing me...and for continuing to do Your work of transforming me. May it all be for Your glory! Amen"
* Joe is not "his" real name.
No comments:
Post a Comment