My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2: 20 (NLT)
And He gave Himself shortly after
I wish I had the answer why bad things happen to good
people. I wish I knew why the Jared Loughner's of the world open fire into our
collective sense of security. I do not know why Congresswoman Giffords lies in
a hospital room and why nine year old Christina-Taylor Greene is no longer with
us. But I do know this much. I know that it is wholly possible for man to be
inherently evil while God remains unwaveringly good. I know that the depravity
we see from man every day does not mean that God is somehow an absentee
landlord. In fact, it is these incidents that remind me of how gracious God is.
Of how deep and wide His mercy truly extends. Because while God had His only
son sweating blood in the
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1: 4-5 (NLT)
It was through the life of Jesus Christ that light
penetrated the darkness of this world. That light cannot be extinguished
because it lives in you and me and all who call on the name of Jesus Christ for
salvation. According to Jesus, we are now the light of the world. That light
penetrates any darkness the world may throw at us. It pierces into the
It is at those moments that God wants us alone in His garden. He wants us to rely upon Him even more in prayer. He wants us to be even more persistent in prayer. Not so much for the answer as it is for the strengthening of the relationship. For the deepening of faith. So that when we walk out of the crushing place we are even more resolved to do the will of the Father. More resolved to spread the Gospel message of love and salvation for all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ. More resolved to be light to the world that sees nothing but the darkness wrought by Jared Loughner.
May God continue to heal Congresswoman Giffords as a testimony to His miraculous power.
Reverend Anthony Wade January 11, 2011