“God did not take Harry to destroy my life!” This statement captured me as I sat across the table from Cindyann Rasquina, a veteran servant of the Lord now navigating through the rough waters of widowhood. No, Cindyann, Jesus has not come to destroy your sweet life of service and ministry.
In her book, The Icing on the Cake, Margaret Stringer shares her rocky road to the mission field - an unexpected teen pregnancy, rejection by her church and family, a lonely delivery and secretive adoption. Yet, Margaret had always and only wanted to be a missionary from the time she was 12 years old.
Somehow through God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness, God did place Margaret on the mission field. She served faithfully as a single woman in the jungles of W. Papua, Indonesia for forty years. Not long after retiring and settling in the states, she was contacted by her son’s daughter. The secret pregnancy, delivery and adoption would not be a secret anymore!
“Is God trying to destroy my life?” That was the question that kept coming back to Margaret over and over as she ignored the letters and emails hoping something this scandalous wouldn’t get out to friends and supporting churches.
But God was NOT trying to destroy her life nor was He trying to ruin 40 years of ministry. He was giving her a family! He was revealing His undeniable mercy, grace and forgiveness.
In our verse for today, Jesus reveals not only Who He is but why He came. He is not a destroyer. He is a Savior and you just can’t lose with Jesus!!
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”
Luke 9:56
Whether an insurmountable trial or a past reckoning coming home to roost, God is not trying to destroy your life dear sister in Christ. Jesus has not come to destroy but to save. Yield to His will and allow Him to reveal His undeniable mercy, grace and forgiveness to you.
Four times in Luke 9 you find the Greek word apollymi which means to fully destroy.
Loser2021 Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated “destroy” in Luke 9:56, our verse for today.