March 2003 Just Suppose... Just suppose the Lord should begin to make people as sick as they claim to be on Sunday. Just suppose the Lord should take away the child you used as an excuse for not being in worship Sunday. Just suppose the Lord should make people as poor as they say they are when they are asked to help finance His work. Just suppose you had to live on ten times what you give to the Lord each week. Just suppose the Lord should strike all who lie about their giving as He did Ananias and Sapphira. Just suppose the Lord let some parents look into the future and see what their example and lax control are doing for their children. Just suppose you had no opportunity to make amends for these things.      Do these “just suppose” statements make you squirm a little? God’s law statements can do that. Sometimes our Lord will deliberately make us squirm. He is perfectly aware of what we need to hear or consider. Only the Lord can point His law with absolute fairness at our sins. We certainly can’t do that for each other.      There will always be the hard confrontation of God’s law for us to experience in this life. Our sinful nature needs to be confronted as often as necessary. Our heavenly Father loves us enough to confront us, make us squirm, and prepare us for the secure love of His Son, Jesus. So what would some Gospel statements sound like? Just suppose you know you’re guilty as charged, but Jesus says, “I’ll pay the penalty”; how would you feel about that? Just suppose you can’t pay a fine because you’re strapped for cash and the Judge says, “Don’t worry about it, it’s already been paid.” Just suppose you are ashamed of what you’ve said to another person, but that person says, “Hey I’m not going to stay angry with you! Let’s just forget it.” Just suppose you know you could have done better at being patient with your children, but they give you a big hug that night anyway&ldots; Just suppose you are frantically trying to pay off an overdue electric bill before they shut off your power. You call the utility office and they tell you the bill has been paid by someone else who wants nothing from you but gratitude&ldots;      In any of these situations, the Gospel about the forgiveness and love from Jesus is at work. Any time we are forgiven, released from guilt, or treated with undeserved kindness, the Gospel is the power at work for our benefit. The Gospel about Jesus living perfect for us, dying guilty for us, and rising from death for us is the power of life for us. It is also the motivation for our best efforts to live the holy life. Enjoy the Gospel during the season of Lent that begins March 5 with our Ash Wednesday services at 1:30pm and at 7:30pm. Lyle Hansen - Pastor

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