Dear Runners,
On your mark, get set, go! I ran track and field in high school, so I know what it is like to line up on the starting line of a race! Then, it was always, “Runners to your mark, get set, bang!”
In most races you must qualify before you can run. Recently Patty and I were invited over to the home of a new couple to Valley, and she informed us that she ran in the Boston Marathon! You cannot just show up at the starting line of the Boston Marathon. No, you must qualify to enter that prestigious event!
When it comes to the spiritual race none of us qualify! We have not met the standard – perfection. In this Advent season we are not only reminded that Christ came into the world to save sinners but also that the Lord Jesus, “has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”
In our study in Hebrews 11 we have not been focusing our attention on “superheroes.” They were people just like us, but they all had one thing in common – faith!
We are taking a 3 week break in Advent and will be looking at 3 New Testament saints who lived by faith. This Sunday we will look at encounters that a woman by the name of Mary Magdalene had with Jesus. She was terrorized by 7 demons and there was zero chance for her to qualify for anything! Her name is mentioned 12 times in the NT. She was:
- Miraculously delivered from seven demons Luke 8:2
- A devout follower of Jesus of Nazareth Matt. 27:55-56
- Present at the Crucifixion Mark 15:40-41
- Sitting opposite the tomb of Jesus Matt. 27:61
- The first to discover the empty tomb Matt. 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8
- The first to see the risen Jesus Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18
The transformation in her life was supernatural. We have much to learn from her love for the Savior of the world. Think about inviting someone!
Fixing our eyes on Jesus,
Glen