I was sick this passed week. I picked up a common cold that was going around my place of employment. It wasn’t the flu but it was about as bad (I suppose) as a common cold gets – whole body aching. I had spent the last 2-3 days at a distance from my family since I didn’t want them to catch it. So, I was feeling a bit lonely and perhaps a bit isolated.
Then, my son, Matthew, created a “Get Well Card” for me:
“Dad, I love you. And you know that I would do anything for you.”
This really touched my heart. My son not only took the time to make me a custom “Get Well Card,” but he also loves me so much that he would do anything for me. Wow!
So, I started thinking… Isn’t this what God says to me? “Son, I love you. And you know that I would do anything for you.” In fact, He did do anything for me. He took my sin upon Himself and hung on a tree and died. And rose again so that I might live, both now and forevermore with Him in heaven.
“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” — Romans 8:32-34 NLT
But what if we, as people who have grown up in church, have been desensitized to the message of the Cross? What then? What if the walls that we have erected have not only protected us from harm but have also kept us from giving and receiving love as we should? What if life’s pains, obstacles, and addictions have somehow numbed us to fully receiving God’s love?
Is there still hope for us?
I submit to you that there is still hope for us.
Dear Father God,
We come to you in the name of Jesus, the only way that we can come to you. Thank you for loving us so much. So, much that you would send your only son to die for us so that we could have our relationship and friendship with you restored.
We confess that this life and world have blinded us to your great love for us. We pray right now that your Holy Spirit would give us a fresh revelation of your love for us. We pray that all walls keeping your love out would be broken down. We pray that your love for us would be so real that it would transform us. That it would change our very lives and reveal the new creations that we already are.
In Jesus’ mighty, matchless name we pray,
Amen.
gary lee millner.com 