Apple Pie

God’s love for you compelled Him to enact the most shockingly dangerous and yet beautiful rescue mission the universe will ever see.

The book of Hebrews says it this way, ‘Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death’ (Hebrews 2:14-15).

God’s ways are exceedingly different and totally unlike our ways. Just look back at your journey with Jesus and witness first-hand the work that He has done in your life. Would you have done it that way?

God’s ways are hidden from us until we enter into a personal relationship with Him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That moment happened for me twenty plus years ago on a Tuesday evening in January, during an Alpha course. Friends who had given their lives to Christ invited us to attend an Alpha course at their church. Alpha is an eleven-week course that seeks to introduce the basics of the Christian faith through a series of talks and discussions in a safe environment where there are no wrong questions.

My friend casually mentioned to me that the woman who makes dessert for the Alpha course won first prize at a local fair for her pie. That was no casual mention, that was the Holy Spirit’s leading and the Saviour leaving the ninety-nine to pursue a long-lost sheep. I was forty-three years old!

Pie, specifically apple pie is one of my love languages. Jesus, compassionate and kind offered me a piece of pie that day. I accepted His invitation, heard the Gospel and He graciously opened my eyes to my great need of a rescue by the Saviour, which compelled me to pray and invite Him to come and rescue me.

I knew for the first time in that moment that I was indeed a sinner and that only Jesus could save me from the pit of debilitating anxiety and fear of death that I existed under. The river of tears that I cried that night were sweet and truly humbling. The pie was great, but the gift of eternal life that I received supernaturally surpassed anything I could have ever dared to dream for.

This part of my testimony still brings me great joy and a few tears as I look back with awe at the deeply personal and beautifully intimate way Jesus pursued me. Apple pie! Oh, His ways!