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A Story for Father's Day


For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 
Philippians 2:13


When Raun Kaufman was eighteen months old, he was diagnosed as severely autistic with an IQ of 30. The professionals who saw him said his case was hopeless. However, his parents didn’t agree. In spite of his obvious disability, they refused to give up hope.

His mother began working with him at home for 70 to 80 hours a week. His father sold his business in order to help. Their efforts were rewarded when Ron responded and began to communicate. Eventually, he became highly verbal and socially interactive. 

Ron Kaufman went on to graduate from Brown University and to found the Autism Treatment Center of America. His story is a testimonial to the perseverance and determination of his parents to help him reach his potential.

Ron’s parents’ response to his disability reminds me of how our heavenly Father  responds to our hopeless spiritual condition. We are completely disabled by sin and helpless to escape its consequences. 

Yet God doesn’t give up on us. By the miracle of salvation through Christ, He makes it possible for us to communicate with and relate to Him. After that breakthrough, God continues working on our development. 

As Philippians 2:13 says,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Joel Hemphill wrote about this truth in his song “He’s Still Working on Me”. The chorus of the song says: 

          He’s still workin’ on me, 
          To make me what I ought to be.
          It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
          The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
          How loving and patient He must be, 
          He’s still workin’ on me.
                                   

I am beyond grateful God loves us in spite of our sin and sees our potential. Scripture assures us He’s at work each and every day to help us overcome our spiritual disability. 

Father, thank you for your transforming love.

Carol

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