I Know You: Devotions From Time of GraceSample

I know your afflictions and poverty

We all like to hear the happy stories of triumphs in the lives of Christians. When people with a microphone are giving a testimony, their speeches always seem to end up in victory. There’s always a market for “I’m a winner” presentations. Who wants to hear a personal testimony from a Christian who is tormented with afflictions and can’t pay her bills?

God does. He wants to hear from us not only when everything is working well for us, when we have plenty of money, feel good, have a job, and our family is intact. He knows us and he loves us also when we suffer from leukemia, MS, cerebral palsy, or Down syndrome. He loves us when we are sitting in an attorney’s office to declare bankruptcy or receive a divorce petition. He loves us though we may be in a jail cell or in rehab or psychiatric counseling.

He knows we’re broken. That’s why he knew he needed to send a Savior--because we couldn’t save ourselves. To the Christians in Smyrna God said, “I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich!” (Revelation 2:9). Their, and our, riches are based not on money or real estate or shares in a business. They are based on his covenant love expressed to us in the holy life and work of Jesus Christ. Their, and our, riches are based on our membership in God’s family, on our ability to call God Father.