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Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International. |
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The God of the Unlikely
"For the
foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is
stronger than human strength."1 In 1955, Nicky Cruz was the
leader of one of the most violent street gangs in New York. Having been born to
severely abusive, witchcraft practicing parents, his heart was filled with
hatred and anger from a very young age; evil was all he knew. His mother had
once declared him the “son of Satan” and it would seem that Nicky was eager to
live up to that name. Before he was even 18, he was feared by other gangs and
police alike; his was a life of brutal violence and addiction. Everyone had
given up hope for Nicky Cruz, even being told by a psychiatrist that he was on
the path to prison, the electric chair, and hell, in that order. But what they
didn’t know was that God, whose weakness
is stronger than that of the strongest man, had a plan and a different path
chosen for this lost, evil man. In 1958, a young country
preacher named David Wilkerson stepped onto Cruz’s dangerous path with one
phrase for the violent warlord: “Jesus loves you!” In response, Nicky slapped
him, spat on him, beat him up, and threatened his life, but the preacher remained
firm, “Jesus still loves you!” Nicky Cruz was now faced with something much
stronger than any adversary he had ever met " God’s reckless love, which began
to break down and soften the stone walls of Nicky’s heart. The walls of anger,
hatred, and evil came down and God transformed Nicky Cruz into a brand new,
unlikely, vessel for HIM! Perhaps you have reached a
point in your life where you feel that you are past forgiveness " you have
fought against God in your own wisdom and strength; you have hurt or been hurt
and hopelessness has filled your heart. JESUS LOVES YOU! He has already paid
the price for your life and forgiveness is yours for the asking! God is on the
path of the unlikely waiting with open arms; Go to Him! JESUS STILL LOVES YOU! Heavenly Father, I have
felt hopeless and angry. I have denied you and turned away. But today, I come
to you and ask you to take this unlikely heart and transform it. Forgive me for
allowing Satan any control and I ask that you take it back! I am no longer a
slave to fear"I am a child of God! In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen! 1.
1
Corinthians 1:25 (NIV). Today’s Encounter was
written by: Veronica B. |
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