Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries - Sunday, 12 January
2014 - "Rescue"
If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
Utah's 11-year-old Trinity loves to play games with her friends:
games like hide-and-seek. Recently, that innocent game produced some unpleasant
results. The story begins with Trinity thinking that the family washing machine
might be a great place to hide.
Trinity wiggled into the appliance and shut the lid. There she
hid until it was time to get out. And that was when her problem became
apparent. You see, Trinity's washing machine sits under the dryer, and that
combination doesn't leave a lot of room to escape.
In short, Trinity was stuck.
Her friends came up with a number of creative suggestions on how
to free her. First, they tried butter. They greased up their friend and gave
her a few tugs. Trinity stayed stuck. One of the pals remembered peanut butter
can get an overly tight ring off a finger, so an application of that table
staple was unsuccessfully administered. Next, they tried cold water. The
thinking was since cold shrinks things it just might shrink Trinity enough to
get her out.
All the cold water did was produce a cold-and-still-stuck
11-year-old. As a last resort, the friends called Trinity's mom who summoned
the fire department. It didn't take them too long for the experts to remove the
dryer from above Trinity's head and release the embarrassed youngster.
I enjoyed reading Trinity's story because it is ours.
Think back on your life. How many times have you come up with an
idea -- an idea which seemed good at the time, but proved to be disastrous?
Adam and Eve thought eating the forbidden fruit was a good idea. Like Trinity,
they pursued their "good idea" and found themselves stuck in a
situation from which they were unable to free themselves.
Just like all of us who find ourselves stuck in sin and, no
matter what we do, no matter how many creative remedies we try, we are unable
to get ourselves out.
No, if we wish to be released from sin and its condemnation, we
need the Savior. It is only when Jesus enters our lives that He, like the
firefighters, brings hope and release.
Of course, there is a difference between the Christ and the
firefighters. The men who released Trinity did so by using tools, knowledge and
skill. It was a simple procedure. The price of our freedom was much greater. To
win our release from the condemnation of sin, Jesus had to live a perfect life,
carry our sins, and die the death our disobedience had brought about.
It was a sacrifice He willingly made. Now, by the Holy Spirit's
power, you, I and all who believe on the Redeemer are free.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks that Your commitment
and sacrifice have freed me from sin, Satan and death. May I live in a way
which shows my appreciation. In Your Name. Amen.
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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center
St. Louis, MO 63141 United States
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