From Inside Out      
     
   One might think - 16 centuries after the birth, sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we humans would have been sufficiently transformed the world over.

   But, no. Two years before pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Europeans began a religious conflict which morphed into dynastic, territorial and commercial warfare. German states, France, Sweden, Spain and other powers got involved. 

   Within 30 years, at least eight million died from war, civil violence, plague and famine. Twenty percent of Germans perished ... higher rates in some other regions.

   Only the January-May 1945 conclusion of WWII in Europe was worse. 

   Despite the horrors, Georg Weissel (1590-1635), a scholar, teacher and pastor, found reason to rejoice: God had come into the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, freely offering to transform our lives from the inside out.

   Weissel was inspired by David's psalm: Lift up your heads, O you gates; 
be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Psalm 24:7

   His hymn is a call to open wide our hearts to the King of kings...to confess Christ the true ruler...to be a temple for the Lord...that our inner presence feel his grace and love...and that a new and nobler life begins as the Holy Spirit guides. 

   The King of glory transforms us from inside out. He alone is true hope in this corrupt world. There is no other way. 

      Jimmy