Romans 5:6-8
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway.
We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We’ve all heard stories of a parent who jumped into the water to save a drowning child…and ended up drowning instead. I know of a woman who was killed when she pushed her child out of the way of an oncoming truck. While none of us can say for certain we would do in such a situation, I’m pretty sure I would risk my life for that of one of our children. And you probably would, also.
Conversely, you may have said of someone, “I would not walk across the street to spit on him if he was on fire!” Now, whether you meant this or not…it was a harsh statement, to be certain. But sometimes, the devil whispers in our ear and causes us to feel this way about people. And sometimes, we play the “stranger card.” We say, “I don’t know him/her…what happens is none of my business.”
Here’s the thing…it’s ALL the business of Jesus! And aren’t we glad?! Jesus gave His very life for us before we were even formed! He sacrificed His blood on the cross for the child who is so precious to you and me…the stranger…and even that person we would not venture to save! JESUS will save them, if only they will call on Him.
This kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? Jesus died for ALL of us…even those we find despicable! He didn’t pick and choose based on race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, politics, socio-economics, or even attitudes and opinions! In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.” He doesn’t specify WHO can come to Him…ALL are welcome!
As we approach Thanksgiving Day and reflect on our blessings, we must surely include Jesus among them. We should all be grateful for how He welcomes each of us…and the incredible sacrifice that He made on our behalf. There is nothing we can offer Jesus that is truly special…yet He died for us anyway. We are all afforded equal opportunity to receive salvation in Him. We didn’t deserve it…we can’t earn it…but still, He laid down His life for each of us.
There might be someone, somewhere, who would be willing to lay down his/her life for you and me…and vice versa. But only Jesus can say that He could do this for ANYONE and EVERYONE. Whether we accept Him as our Savior was not a deciding factor…He did it anyway.
Praise God for sending His precious Son – for His incredible, selfless gift. My prayer is that you have embraced Jesus for yourself – that you have humbly and gratefully surrendered your heart to Him and asked that He forgive your sins – and fill your heart forever. ThisThanksgiving, can you count Jesus as your biggest blessing? Isn’t it time you could?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway.
We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We’ve all heard stories of a parent who jumped into the water to save a drowning child…and ended up drowning instead. I know of a woman who was killed when she pushed her child out of the way of an oncoming truck. While none of us can say for certain we would do in such a situation, I’m pretty sure I would risk my life for that of one of our children. And you probably would, also.
Conversely, you may have said of someone, “I would not walk across the street to spit on him if he was on fire!” Now, whether you meant this or not…it was a harsh statement, to be certain. But sometimes, the devil whispers in our ear and causes us to feel this way about people. And sometimes, we play the “stranger card.” We say, “I don’t know him/her…what happens is none of my business.”
Here’s the thing…it’s ALL the business of Jesus! And aren’t we glad?! Jesus gave His very life for us before we were even formed! He sacrificed His blood on the cross for the child who is so precious to you and me…the stranger…and even that person we would not venture to save! JESUS will save them, if only they will call on Him.
This kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? Jesus died for ALL of us…even those we find despicable! He didn’t pick and choose based on race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, politics, socio-economics, or even attitudes and opinions! In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.” He doesn’t specify WHO can come to Him…ALL are welcome!
As we approach Thanksgiving Day and reflect on our blessings, we must surely include Jesus among them. We should all be grateful for how He welcomes each of us…and the incredible sacrifice that He made on our behalf. There is nothing we can offer Jesus that is truly special…yet He died for us anyway. We are all afforded equal opportunity to receive salvation in Him. We didn’t deserve it…we can’t earn it…but still, He laid down His life for each of us.
There might be someone, somewhere, who would be willing to lay down his/her life for you and me…and vice versa. But only Jesus can say that He could do this for ANYONE and EVERYONE. Whether we accept Him as our Savior was not a deciding factor…He did it anyway.
Praise God for sending His precious Son – for His incredible, selfless gift. My prayer is that you have embraced Jesus for yourself – that you have humbly and gratefully surrendered your heart to Him and asked that He forgive your sins – and fill your heart forever. ThisThanksgiving, can you count Jesus as your biggest blessing? Isn’t it time you could?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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