Perhaps you heard about Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum making a clear statement of his faith in Christ on national television following a remarkable play that ended the team’s playoff game against the New Orleans Saints earlier this month. I’m always grateful to hear credible testimony to Christ in a moment like that. However, I want to make sure you don’t miss another gospel testimony that happened this week. This testimony was far more clear and poignant because it grew out of the deep pain of sexual abuse. I’m talking about the story of Larry Nasser and the opportunity created by the judge allowing time for any woman Mr. Nasser had abused to speak at his sentencing hearing. You can learn more at any major news site. What you may not catch by simply watching or reading the news is the stunning gospel testimony of former gymnast Rachael Denhollander given right in the courtroom. I urge you to watch or read her testimony here.
At the site I’m encouraging you to visit, Justin Taylor says:
Today former gymnast Rachael Denhollander had 40 minutes to address the court—and her abuser—during the sentencing hearing of Larry Nasser, the former Team USA gymnastics doctor who molested her 16 years ago at his Michigan State University clinic.
What she said directly to the man—who gratified himself off of her innocence and abused countless other girls in a malicious and manipulative way—is an incredible testimony to the grace and justice of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, the series “Is God Here?” continues with a message from an incredibly rich text, Ephesians 2:11-22. I’m including that text here so that you might spend some time with it before Sunday morning. Please pray that we will each be transformed by the Holy Spirit from this text in a message called “Making Peace.”
Ephesians 2:11–22 (ESV)
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
–Gene Cornett