In one church that I pastored, we had one large family with a divorced father who struggled with drunkenness. He had a warm and humble spirit, and I liked him very much. When he came to church,
he would work around the building. At worship services he would kneel and pray at the altar with tears. He usually had a job and as far as I could tell he gave money to help raise his children. But as long as I knew him and prayed with him, he did not stay sober. In him I saw a weakness that was never overcome while I knew him, and I felt powerless in my ministry to him.
But I also know someone closely who likewise was destroying his marriage and family through alcoholism, who turned to Christ and completely stopped drinking. He became a new man through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is the life-transforming gospel we preach. This gospel has the power to save and to deliver. In some true believers, deliverance takes longer than others, but transformation does come. I look forward to preaching this gospel again on Sunday.
I was reminded of all this as I considered one of this week's illustrations. When it comes to helping people beset by addictions, this illustration shows the stark contrast between those who believe in the life-transforming power of the gospel and those who do not: Seattle Group Believes Alcoholics Can't Change.
Posted by Brian Larson at 11:39 AM on July 13, 2007
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