Randy Alcorn

O femeie care a mers să facă avort a relatat următoarea conversație avută cu consiliera de la clinica pentru avort: „Cum arată un fetus la trei luni?” „Ca un ghem de celule”, a venit răspunsul pe un ton cât se poate de natural. Mai târziu, aceeași femeie a văzut imagini cu etapele dezvoltării intrauterine a fătului. Ea a spus: „Când am văzut că, la trei luni, «un ghem de celule» avea degete la mâini și la picioare și că era un bebeluș perfect format, am devenit de-a dreptul isterică. Fusesem mințită și înșelată. Sunt convinsă că mii de alte femei sunt la fel de puțin informate și de prost servite.”

As God demonstrated in giving Paul his thorn in the flesh, He sometimes has better things in mind than our health.

What follows is an edited version of an email I sent to a friend who faced a heartbreaking situation involving a family member. I’m sharing it because it can apply to any faithful, godly person dealing with tragic events caused by a child’s, spouse’s, or parent’s bad choices.

Though all of us, if asked, might say that we don’t have any more right to a perfect and pain-free life than the next person, in our own hearts and minds, we tend to believe that we do. So, when forced to suffer, even mature believers can feel driven to question God’s motives.

We must become connected to the One who alone gives not only deliverance from sin, but meaning and purpose and personal relationship. This is what the Bible calls reconciliation.

As we befriend and spend time with unbelievers, we must carefully evaluate and ask ourselves: am I influencing them, or being influenced myself? Scripture tells us, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5, NLT).

The primary passage of Scripture that talks about storing up treasures in Heaven is Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus tells us to transfer our wealth from one place to another.

I met and talked with author and psychologist David Powlison only once, but I will never forget the sweetness of his spirit, and how I saw Jesus in him. His insights were penetrating and gospel-centered.

Tomorrow, May 31, is Nanci’s and my 50th wedding anniversary. I thank God for His faithfulness and the time we had together.  I will not regret the years we might have had but be profoundly grateful for the years we did have—and not just the quantity, but the quality.