May 2

Scripture is a living love letter from God to the world. We are to be the same. Hebrews 4:12 describes this letter of God as a two-edged sword that divides even to the depths between soul and spirit. A letter with that kind of power is not something that can be produced in a moment or in an offhanded way. It requires great and cost to the author. Living letters are very costly to all concerned.

It is interesting to note that in Old Testament times, Scripture was written on parchment, the skin of a lamb that was killed. This skin was then dried out and stretched for this purpose. The life of a living animal had to be sacrificed in order for the message to be written.

You and I are called on by God to sacrifice our lives so that the rest of the world may hear his message of love to them. Even when we do this, it is not over for us. There may be a process of drying and stretching.

There are times in our lives when all seems dry and there is no refreshing water to give life in our existence. We may feel stretched beyond our usual capacity to give to family or church or world. This is not something unusual. This is normal.

Giving ourselves to Jesus involves total commitment. We will be stretched and sometimes experience moments of dryness in our lives. When this happens, we need to remember that our lives are not our own and that we are being used by God to reach a lost world with his living message of love at the cost of our lives--just as Jesus, the Lamb of God, did for us.

Scripture for today: Revelation 5:6
Thought for today: Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain to bring God's living word to me and the world.
Prayer for today: Jesus, make me like you, willing to die in order to be a living letter from God to the lost.

MAY 02