I'm Fine

TITLE: I'm Fine
DATE: June 9, 2019
TEXT: Hebrews 3:13 - English Standard Version   - 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

Unexpectedly, Christa Lilly woke up and told her mother, “I’m fine.”

What sounds like an every-day occurrence, wasn’t. You see, in November of 2,000 Christa suffered a heart attack and stroke which put her into, what the doctors call, a “vegetative state.”

For you and me that means Christa was unresponsive and unable to communicate.

Then, for a brief period of three days, Christa woke up. The doctors couldn’t explain why, but Christa woke up. She ate cake; she gave an interview with a local news station; she saw her twelve-year-old daughter and her three grandchildren.
She also told visitors, “I think it’s wonderful. It makes me so happy.”

Then, after three days, Christa slipped back into her coma-like state. Having heard Christa’s story, let me ask: “What would you do if you were her in her situation?”
Think about that for a moment…

• What would you want to eat?...
• Who would you like to have pay you a visit?...
•  Might there not be some people to whom you would like to speak a word of apology?
• Which people in your life would you call in so you might say words of love or support?

My friends, consider, if God brought you back from a coma, what would you say, what advice would you give to your twelve-year-old girl with whom you were speaking for the first time in years?

I wondered, “What would I do; what would I say if God gave me such an opening?” Then I realized: God has given me that time; He has given me such an opening.

Now, like Krista, none of us knows how much time we have.

 We don’t know if we will see the end of this day, or dawn tomorrow; but we do know God has given us this time, right now. And what will we do with this gift of God?

The writer to the Hebrews makes a suggestion: “ …exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”.

Knowing that sin wants to harden our hearts and turn us from the Savior, he urges all Christians to make the most of every day… encouraging and strengthening each other in the Savior.

Encouragement is what our sons and daughters need to hear from their Christian parents. Strengthening for today, and every day is what parishes are looking for from their pastors; what wives and husbands need to hear from their spouses.
Jesus has given us today… let us share Jesus, His grace and love with those whom today will bring into our lives.

THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, my limited vision cannot see what this day will bring and what tomorrow may offer. I cannot predict what will happen. I only know this: You have given me salvation through the Savior. Today may I share that Gift and encourage others whom I see. This I ask in the Name of Jesus Who strengthens me. In His Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html