There has been many times in my life that I have felt helpless. The feeling

of being helpless or powerless is not one that anyone would relish. Most

people would use these words to describe the worst parts of their lives. The

times when nothing seemed to go right and the person was helpless to do

anything about it. We use adjectives to describe those times. We say I was

in a dark place then, or I was fighting a losing battle. Never is this clearer

then when Satan has me trapped in a sin. I feel completely helpless to my

condition and clinging to the edge of hope. You see these two words are

forever intertwined, and in a later bulletin I hope (no pun intended) to talk

more about hope. I suspect that all of us at some portion of our lives have

felt utterly helpless, and powerless to do anything about it. The easiest

thing to do is give up, and many do just that. I believe that’s what makes

the Gospel message so powerful, because in the midst of giving up and

quitting on God, yourself, and those around you. You hear this:

.For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the

ungodly.. Romans 5:6. In all the words that have been spoken to us by

God; these words form the heart of God’s plans and desires for each of us.

No other event in the history of man has changed so many lives. No other

power can accomplish so great a task as the salvation of ungodly people.

One has to have a heart of stone not to be touched by what God has done

for us.

These wondrous things were not done in secret. All can know of them. All

should know of them. But knowing of them is not enough. In 1 Peter 2:4.

10, Jesus is compared to a .choice stone, a precious corner stone.. We have

the opportunity to do one of two things as we are confronted with the

crucified Son of God. One can choose to reject Christ. Peter says that

people stumble in this way because they are disobedient to the word. This

choice, says the writer, leads to doom.

Would it not be better for you and I to place our trust in God’s Son and

obey His word? Peter says that in this way we can be built up as a spiritual

house. Many stumble over Christ by rejecting Him. But others have

.purified their souls. in obedience to the truth. These have been born again

of imperishable seed: the living and abiding word of God.

.Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit

unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a

pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of

incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.. 1

Peter 1:22.23.

Jesus Christ died for you too. What have you done with the knowledge of

that gracious deed? We hope that the crucified Christ will change your life

as it has others.

Eric