Today's Devotional

 

 January 7, 2009

                                                                                                                        

Subject:  Maybe Now They'll Hear Us

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;"

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We don't glory in the calamity that many have seen due to the worldwide financial crisis, but it does open a door for many in the faith community to talk about our hope.  This isn't the hope that the world gives when they talk about hope.  No this is "The Hope" of all hopes.  

In Germany yesterday, a billionaire committed suicide by throwing himself under a train.  He lost too much money and couldn't take it.  This story is seemingly being repeated in many places around the world these days.  Paul's story above is what these people need to hear now.  Paul talks about how they were so stressed out that they also despaired of life, but he came to realize that if they continued to trust in themselves, then they would most surely end up dead, if not physically, surely spiritually which is even worse.

Today while the world is despairing of life, we as believers should be offering "the Life-Giver."  They may not have listened before, but as things get tough everywhere, perhaps now they are willing to hear what you have to say.  God has placed the world in a position to listen to what we have to say.  Let's say it to them.  Tough times don't last, tough people do, that is when those tough people are believers in Jesus Christ.           

Carlen