Beautiful Scars by Larry Refsland
There must be some unwritten rule that says, “If someone shows you their scar, you are obligated to show them yours.” You know what I’m referring to, don’t you? Someone shows you the scar from when they cut their finger. Your response, show them your scar from when you cut your arm. Another person feels compelled to show their appendix scar and before you know it, someone is unbuttoning their shirt to show their open-heart surgery scar! Scars serve as sort of a reminder of some kind of battle. Be it a wartime battle, a fight against disease, or a victory over an accidental injury... scars are a badge of survival. Which is probably is what makes us proud of scars. The Bible records the battle for our souls that was won by Jesus when he was crucified. The disciples and many others saw Jesus after he was resurrected. The proof is Jesus showed them the scars that were on his hands and feet. Jesus’s resurrected body still bore the scars, a reminder of the awful price he paid for our souls and the forgiveness of sin. When he showed his scars, no one could top them! No one had a more fantastic story than Jesus. His scars serve as a reminder of the value of a soul in God’s eyes, your soul. His scars tell us the extent of his love for each and every one of us. Whenever you doubt the love of God, consider the beautiful scars on the feet and hands of Jesus. His love goes beyond what we can ask or imagine and he’s got the marks to prove it! “And that’s the end of the inning. One hit, no runs, no errors, and one left on.” If you’re a Twins fan, you might have heard the late Herb Carneil or now-retired John Gordon say these words many times. Of course, leaving a man on base without getting him all the way home is always disappointing. The whole object of the game is to score runs. Our spiritual life is like this as well. The object of our faith is to get all the way home to heaven, safely.
You might picture yourself as the man on third base waiting for someone to hit the ball somewhere that will allow you to get home safely. The process isn’t always easy, because the opposition is trying to keep you from scoring. Every base runner depends on several things to help him run. Coaches give encouragement and advice. Other players do their best to advance him to the next base. And then, there’s the sacrifice play. That’s when one batter purposely hits the ball where he will be thrown out but allows another player to score. In our run around the bases of life, we depend on many people to guide us, encourage us and push us to the next base. In our spiritual journey, the only way any of us get “home” is by the sacrifice play of Jesus Christ. He willingly gave up his personal stats to make it possible for you to score! As we help our team get around the bases, let’s try not to leave any runners stranded. Oh, by the way, you’re up next! |
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May 2016
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