Not Big Enough

TITLE: Not Big Enough
DATE:  July 8, 2019
TEXT: James 2: 18-22 - ESV -   someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 

On January 12, 1888, it was unseasonably warm in South Dakota.

Children went to school without coats, hats or mittens. By the end of the day the temperature had dropped and snow began to fall and blow. One farmer went to the school house to pick up his three children aged 9, 11 and 17.

He had just gotten them situated in the wagon and was ready to get in himself when the horses, reacting to the blizzard bolted and got away. Hours later, miles further, the farmer found his children.

The older girl stood by the frozen bodies of her brother and sister.

Heartbroken, she collapsed into her father’s arms. Later, when she was  composed she told her father how she had tried to take her big, heavy coat and wrap it around all of them. Then, with sadness, she whispered, “But the coat wasn’t big enough.”
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My dear friends, in this world there are a lot of things which aren’t big enough.

In its honesty, the U.S. Declaration of Independence goes only so far in its claims. Nowhere does it promise happiness. The biggest coat it can hold out is a willingness to pursue happiness. In truth, no matter how big a government might get, it will never be big enough to cover the sins of its citizenry; nor can it bring salvation and bestow contentment upon all its people.

Still, ‘it’s not big enough’ can never be said about the love of the Lord.

God’s love is big enough when His children rebel; His love was big enough to transform murdering Moses into the leader of the Exodus. God’s love was big enough to repeatedly call the wandering Children of Israel back to faithfulness.

In the New Testament His love was big enough to patiently teach the confused and misunderstanding disciples. And today God’s love remains big enough to embrace the entire world… which includes you and me.

The Savior’s love which resisted the devil’s temptations; which endured unfair accusations; which suffered physical abuse; which kept Him on His cross and brought resurrection strength, is big enough to remove our sins and cover this world.
Today Jesus’ love sends the Holy Spirit into this world. Repent, believe, be saved. Why? Because it would be a terrible thing if only the devil’s believed in Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, all kinds of groups, companies, products and governments say they have a coat big enough to cover your needs, wants and desires. Help us recognize their shortcomings and acknowledge the Lord’s power and authority begins where theirs ends. This I ask in the Savior’s 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