🙌It's the Friday Call to Worship!🙌

This week we asked, "Why did Jesus die?" in the Alpha course I am hosting. This story was part of the lesson and has been on my mind all week.

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Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who hid Jews during the Holocaust. Her whole family was arrested and imprisoned. Her sister died beside her in Ravensbruck concentration camp just ten days before Corrie's release.

Three years later, ten Boom went to Germany to speak about God's forgiveness. Her message was put to the test as soon as she delivered it. Torment resurfaced as she recognized one of the cruelest guards from Ravensbruck approaching her. She remembered the blue uniform, the shame of parading past him naked, and her sister's long and painful death at his hand. The man hadn't recognized her but heard her speak about Ravensbruck.

He said, "I am now a Christian. I have forgiveness for the cruelties I have done. But I have asked God's grace for an opportunity to ask one of my victims for forgiveness. Fräuelin ten Boom, once you were forgiven. Will you forgive me?"

Corrie ten Boom recounted, "I could not. I remembered the suffering of my dying sister through him. I could only hate him. And I said, 'Thank you Jesus that you have brought into my heart God's love through the Holy Spirit who was given to me. And thank you, Father, that Your love is stronger than my hatred and unforgiveness."

"That same moment, I was free. I could say, 'Brother give me your hand.' And I shook hands with him. And it was as if I felt God's love stream through my arms. You've never touched so the ocean of God's love as that you forgive your enemies"

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The part that hit me hardest isn't the obvious part about the power of forgiveness. It's that we can't do it on our own. It was never even expected of us.

Jesus was always the plan. The Way, the Truth and the Life. It's a wonderful relief to know we cannot be good enough, kind enough, or anything enough without Jesus. But He is enough, and we can do all things through His Holy Spirit given to us. (Romans 5:5, Philippians 4:13)

Listen to "Wonderful Counselor" by Pat Barrett.