Footlights Devotionals

February 2, 2010

Dan was in his early twenties. Dan was full of plans and potential. Dan was in love. Dan was dying of cancer. Family and friends, along with Christians worldwide, prayed for Christ's resurrection power to be shown in Dan's life. God answered our prayers, but not with the "storybook" ending we were hoping for. Dan went to be with Jesus just a year or two after his diagnosis.

But although we watched Dan's body waste away from the cancer, the power of the Resurrection was at work in his life as he lived out the words of the apostle Paul, "So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you" (2Cor. 4:12). Although the gradual destruction of Dan's physical body was painfully obvious, God used his witness to create a resurrection miracle.

As Dan's outer body wasted away, his spirit shone bright with the light of heaven. Word began to spread of this young man who wasn't afraid to die. As the light of Dan's witness shone in the little country church he attended, the miraculous happened! From death came life! An apathetic, spiritually dying church began to revive. The resurrection power in Dan was contagious. Church members repented, then became bold to witness to their friends and neighbors. New believers began showing up at the services, brought by those who had led them to the Lord.

Now, over a decade later, the power of the Resurrection is still at work in Dan's little church. They are an active, praying congregation with a vital outreach to their community. God wasn't content to bring life only to Dan. He used His resurrection power in Dan as the seed to bring life to an entire church!

PRAYER

Dear God, No matter what life sends my way, may my choices and my actions always bring honor to Christ. Amen.