Healed by the God of Life (Part 2)
November 17, 2019 • Taylor Eising • Psalm 103:1–12, 1 Peter 5:10
Editor’s Note: Today’s reading addresses abortion. . When is the last time you were utterly broken by sin? The last time you felt so far away from God that the idea of prayer seemed laughable? The last time you felt so covered in sin that you were drowning in it? The last time you felt abandoned, alone, and unlovable? . We’ve all been there or will be there at some point. Maybe you are there right now. One of the many things that can bring us to this place of utter hopelessness is abortion. It feels like something has ended, like the door between us and God has been slammed shut, locked, and barricaded. Like we will never see Him again. . All sin does that. It builds an impenetrable wall between us and God. But Jesus gave His life to break down that wall of our well-earned despair, guilt, and shame. Because of His death and resurrection, that wall crumbles when it hears Him speak a single word. He pulls us to the other side, and He weeps with us over our sin. It breaks His heart, until we rely on His strength to repent and ask forgiveness. . Jesus loves us more than we will ever know. If we are recovering from an abortion (or any sin), He is walking this rough road with us. Jesus feels our pain, even when we feel like He is distant (Hebrews 4:14-16). He offers forgiveness to us (1 John 1:9–2:2). He is working to restore us. He has a plan for us. We are not alone. . Abortion isolates people in their shame, but Jesus reaches into that shame and isolation and draws us to Himself. Sin and death break us, but the God of Life will never stop healing us. • Taylor Eising . • When you feel far away from God, who are some Christians in your life you can talk to about it? . • When you ask God to forgive you, do you believe that He does? Why or why not? . In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)
Serving the God of Life (Part 1)
November 16, 2019 • Taylor Eising • Isaiah 42:5, Mark 10:13–16, John 1:1–5
Editor’s Note: Today’s reading addresses abortion. . Our God loves life. Every creature on this planet is alive because of His incredible love. And He calls that life “very good” (Genesis 1:31). The natural consequence of God’s presence in the world is abundant life, but the natural consequence of sin’s presence in the world is death. One example of death in our world is abortion. . The Bible talks about life inside the womb several times. In Genesis 25:21-26, we hear about Jacob and Esau fighting before they are even born. In Luke 1:41, John the Baptist leaps in his mother’s womb when he meets the pre-born Jesus. God also makes it clear He knows and loves us before we are even born (Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5). . Although God loves life, sometimes people feel they have no choice but to abort their baby. Abortion is a heartbreaking decision to make. It comes from feeling alone, helpless, and hopeless. Satan loves to isolate us, insisting that there is no solution to the problems before us, so the only way out is death. . But that is a lie straight from the pit of hell. God, who is in absolute control over life and death, is with us in every circumstance. If He has created a life, however that life was created, He will provide a way to care for it. We are never, ever alone. God is with us, He loves us, and He is lavishing His incredible grace on us. . God loves life so much that He sent Jesus to defeat sin and death. He did that so all life, including ours, could be reconciled to Him in love and peace (Colossians 1:20). One day, He will come back to resurrect all His people from the dead, killing death once and for all (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the meantime, celebrate the God of Life. • Taylor Eising . • How can you show God’s love to people who have had or who are considering an abortion? . • How can living as a loving community of believers focused on Jesus make it easier for people with unexpected pregnancies to care for their babies? . He [God] created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. Isaiah 42:5 (NLT)