"Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly.
You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness
of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him." (Col 2:9, MSG)
Imagine a world without God, how empty it would be. Chaos would become the norm,
as right and wrong wouldn't matter any longer. "Me first" would reign in full
vigor!
The prodigal son lived in such a world of indulgence. Taking his inheritance
years before his dad even died, he opted for wild living, and no one could stop
him.
At first he delighted in his endeavors, but soon his money ran out and life was
no longer as expected. All his friends disappeared, never to be seen again. All
those who hung around him for their own pleasure, also mysteriously vanished. He
was left wanting with no one who cared. Welcome to planet earth!
He didn't even have enough food: "He was so hungry he would have eaten the
corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any." (Luke 15:16, MSG) Not
only was his stomach empty, but his soul was as well. He had truly hit rock
bottom!
Good news though: "That brought him to his senses." (Luke 15:17a, MSG)
To make a long story short, he decided: "I'm going back to my father. I'll say
to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you, I don't deserve
to be called your son . . ." (Luke 15:18, MSG)
Interestingly enough, his father was far more excited to see his son than to
listen to his confession: "But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to
the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family
ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.'" (Luke 15:22, MSG)
Do you find yourself completely dejected, hopeless and completely submerged in
darkness, so much so that you can't even see the light any longer? Would you
like to do something about it?
Suicide isn't the answer. Get up instead ans come to your Father in heaven and
discover His abundant grace. He loves you far more than you love yourself! He
will save you from your pit, dress you up and celebrate that you are allowing
Him to give you a new opportunity, a life beyond imagination. There is hope
after all!
After the battle of Gettysburg in 1863, it rained on the living and the dead.
It's as if the skies were commiserating the fatal lot of most of these soldiers.
The landscape was ravaged by cannon shells, wagon wheels and numerous footsteps
from the soldiers who were no more. Many dead horses laid among the dead men.
Cries of the wounded raised up amidst the stench of the dead. The locals' homes
were also far from desirable. Either they had been burned down or had been
partially destroyed, and blood was found where the wounded had lain.
Sadly, many soldiers ransacked Gettysburg, looking for food, clothing and
spoils. Some locals tried to exploit the situation as well. They sold water,
bread and anything possible, or charged wounded soldiers for a wagon ride to the
hospital. This sure didn't help the civilians who were looking for their loved
ones, dead or alive.
In such grim circumstances, the wounded soldiers had no chance for survival,
unless they had money, that is! Despair must have rampaged, and prayers must
have become even more abundant.
Then the unforeseeable happened. A real miracle! Local residents began to reach
out to the wounded. Some cooked, as certainly these poor souls must have been
hungry. Others provided transportation for free to the hospital or helped
families finding their loved ones. Many nurses and doctors came to their rescue
as well. The grimness was lifted, and hope became vibrant. Light started to
shine and would continue to shine until everybody had been taken care of!
Your lot is not desperate. There is hope! Your circumstances may look grim, but
then, God is way bigger than our circumstances. He can assure you that: "If God
didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition
and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else
he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?" (Rom 8:32, MSG)
Isn't it time that we fully discover the grace He has reserved for us?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.