The Word of God –“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14

There is a memory I have that goes back to the days when I attended Lutheran Elementary School. I’m not sure what grade we were in when the teacher told our class, “Raise your hand if you are sure you are going to heaven.”

Hands did not immediately pop up. Gradually a hand was raised here and there, and eventually nearly everywhere, as we grasped more fully the meaning of the Gospel that we had been taught.

Before we raised our hands, perhaps some of us were reminded of being reprimanded that very day, or perhaps our own hearts accused us of wrongdoing, and we felt unworthy of heaven. Some, perhaps, did not want to appear boastful-thinking that others might think that they were raising their hands because they though they could get into heaven on their merit.

Why were some bold enough to eventually raise their hands? Our class was to talk about this. Bible promises were recalled. Perhaps they included the verses, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, and the verse, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

I believe that we eventually realized that in raising our hands we were not boasting in anything that we had accomplished, but rather in what our Lord and Savior had done when He allowed His hands to be raised and nailed to the cross to redeem us from our sins.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come into our hearts with your cross. It is because of your sinless death we can be assured of life everlasting. May we, as your redeemed people, now walk in the newness of life. Amen.

Lois Kasten
Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior
Green Valley, Arizona