
Day 2 — A Faith Grounded In Careful Testimony
Luke writes as a careful investigator so that his reader may know the certainty of the Christian message.

Luke writes as a careful investigator so that his reader may know the certainty of the Christian message.

Christianity stakes everything on the public claim that Jesus died and rose again.

Last Sunday was an encouraging beginning to our guest series, The Beauty and the Sense of Christianity. We welcomed guests at each of our four services, and I am thankful to God for every person who came. But the number who attended is not the only measure of encouragement. Just as important were the many invitations that were made. Some were accepted; probably many more were politely declined. Every invitation required prayer, courage and love, and every one was an expression of our desire that others might meet Jesus.

Mary’s beautiful devotion is drawn forth by the still greater beauty of Jesus, who gives himself for betrayers and failures.

Jesus, our Lord and Teacher, stoops to cleanse undeserving people and makes his humble love the pattern for our lives.

Jesus is the only one with the right to condemn, yet he offers mercy that neither excuses our sin nor leaves us enslaved to it.

Jesus crosses every barrier to welcome the outsider and offers the living water that alone can satisfy our deepest thirst.

Jesus does not merely rescue a celebration from disaster: he reveals the extravagant grace and overflowing joy of God’s kingdom.