When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.[Galatians 4:4-5]
Angus McGillivray was a strong, strapping Scotsman. He was also a survivor.
Being a survivor was important because McGillivray was living in a World War II Japanese prisoner of war camp. "Living" might be too kind a word for his situation. This camp was a survival of the fittestkind of place. Any façade of civilization or compassion the inmates had once possessed had long since been removed.
As I said, McGillivray was a survivor. The only problem was he didn't survive. Word spread around the camp that the Scotsman was gone and that the Japanese weren't at fault.
Eventually, those around McGillivray managed to figure things out. Scottish soldiers who came from the same village felt responsible for each other. "Looking out for his buddy" was what McGillivray had been doing for a wounded, childhood pal. Everyone knew there was no hope for the man, but McGillivray felt he had to try.
That's why, when his friend's blanket was stolen, McGillivray "found" him another, by giving the sick man his own. He shared his meager rations as well. His sacrifice paid off. His friend began to mend; his body started to heal. That's when McGillivray died. "Exhaustion and starvation" was the verdict of the doctors.
But everybody knew the doctors were wrong. The soldiers knew McGillivray had died because he had done everything -- given everything -- to save his friend's life.
You know, I think a person could live to a ripe old age without ever having a friend like McGillivray.
Indeed, many people, maybe even some of you reading this Daily Devotion, think you have no such friend. But you do. Now, when I say that you have such a friend most of you may start thumbing through your mental card file of acquaintances and contacts. If you are blessed, you may find a friend or two like that. But I'm not talking about just any, old someone. I'm talking about the Individual who is the greatest love you and this world will ever know. I'm talking about Someone who lived for you and died for you.
I'm speaking of Jesus, God's Son, who came to this world to redeem humanity. Of course, when I say that, the world mutters, "Oh, Him," and Christians say, "I knew that already."
I'm sure you did. But did you ever think of Jesus in terms of Angus McGillivray?
We were Jesus' dying friends. So we might be saved, Jesus, like McGillivray, made sacrifices. Indeed, He put everything He had, everything He was, into that job of rescuing us from humankind's enemies. Wealth, family, a long future -- these things, and many more -- were daily sacrificed as Jesus went about the business of saving us. Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross proves the depth of His commitment, the quality of His love. His resurrection on the third day is proof that He has been successful.
Indeed, our peace of mind and faith in Him is evidence that Jesus has rescued us from our oppressors.
You know, when those men in McGillivray's camp thought about what he had done, they changed. They started acting more like the Scotsman, and the camp was transformed as they learned to watch out for each other. No one told them to do this.
They just did it.
Just as we who have been saved ought to care for others -- not because we have to, but because we want to.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, every day of Jesus' life was a day committed to saving me. I give thanks for His work of redemption and the Holy Spirit's call to faith. May I show my appreciation by caring for others. In the Savior's Name I ask it. Amen.
Angus McGillivray was a strong, strapping Scotsman. He was also a survivor.
Being a survivor was important because McGillivray was living in a World War II Japanese prisoner of war camp. "Living" might be too kind a word for his situation. This camp was a survival of the fittestkind of place. Any façade of civilization or compassion the inmates had once possessed had long since been removed.
As I said, McGillivray was a survivor. The only problem was he didn't survive. Word spread around the camp that the Scotsman was gone and that the Japanese weren't at fault.
Eventually, those around McGillivray managed to figure things out. Scottish soldiers who came from the same village felt responsible for each other. "Looking out for his buddy" was what McGillivray had been doing for a wounded, childhood pal. Everyone knew there was no hope for the man, but McGillivray felt he had to try.
That's why, when his friend's blanket was stolen, McGillivray "found" him another, by giving the sick man his own. He shared his meager rations as well. His sacrifice paid off. His friend began to mend; his body started to heal. That's when McGillivray died. "Exhaustion and starvation" was the verdict of the doctors.
But everybody knew the doctors were wrong. The soldiers knew McGillivray had died because he had done everything -- given everything -- to save his friend's life.
You know, I think a person could live to a ripe old age without ever having a friend like McGillivray.
Indeed, many people, maybe even some of you reading this Daily Devotion, think you have no such friend. But you do. Now, when I say that you have such a friend most of you may start thumbing through your mental card file of acquaintances and contacts. If you are blessed, you may find a friend or two like that. But I'm not talking about just any, old someone. I'm talking about the Individual who is the greatest love you and this world will ever know. I'm talking about Someone who lived for you and died for you.
I'm speaking of Jesus, God's Son, who came to this world to redeem humanity. Of course, when I say that, the world mutters, "Oh, Him," and Christians say, "I knew that already."
I'm sure you did. But did you ever think of Jesus in terms of Angus McGillivray?
We were Jesus' dying friends. So we might be saved, Jesus, like McGillivray, made sacrifices. Indeed, He put everything He had, everything He was, into that job of rescuing us from humankind's enemies. Wealth, family, a long future -- these things, and many more -- were daily sacrificed as Jesus went about the business of saving us. Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross proves the depth of His commitment, the quality of His love. His resurrection on the third day is proof that He has been successful.
Indeed, our peace of mind and faith in Him is evidence that Jesus has rescued us from our oppressors.
You know, when those men in McGillivray's camp thought about what he had done, they changed. They started acting more like the Scotsman, and the camp was transformed as they learned to watch out for each other. No one told them to do this.
They just did it.
Just as we who have been saved ought to care for others -- not because we have to, but because we want to.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, every day of Jesus' life was a day committed to saving me. I give thanks for His work of redemption and the Holy Spirit's call to faith. May I show my appreciation by caring for others. In the Savior's Name I ask it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Psalms 96:1 Sing to Adonai a new song!
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
____________________________
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Psalms 96:1 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Sing to Adonai, bless his name!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples!
4 For Adonai is great, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared more than all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but Adonai made the heavens.
6 In his presence are honor and majesty;
in his sanctuary, strength and splendor.
7 Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
8 give Adonai the glory due to his name;
bring an offering, and enter his courtyards.
9 Worship Adonai in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “Adonai is king!”
The world is firmly established, immovable.
He will judge the peoples fairly.
11 Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad;
let the sea roar, and everything in it;
12 let the fields exult and all that is in them.
Then all the trees in the forest will sing
13 before Adonai, because he has come,
he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly
and the peoples with his faithfulness.
97:1 Adonai is king, let the earth rejoice,
let the many coasts and islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him,
setting ablaze his foes on every side.
4 His flashes of lightning light up the world;
the earth sees it and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Adonai,
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All who worship images will be put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols.
Bow down to him, all you gods!
8 Tziyon hears and is glad, Adonai;
the daughters of Y’hudah rejoice at your rulings.
9 For you, Adonai, most high over all the earth,
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love Adonai, hate evil!
He keeps his faithful servants safe.
He rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in Adonai, you righteous;
and give thanks on recalling his holiness.
98:(0) A psalm:
(1) Sing a new song to Adonai,
because he has done wonders.
His right hand, his holy arm
have won him victory.
2 Adonai has made known his victory;
revealed his vindication in full view of the nations,
3 remembered his grace and faithfulness
to the house of Isra’el.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4 Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
Break forth, sing for joy, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to Adonai with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious music!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the shofar,
shout for joy before the king, Adonai!
7 Let the sea roar, and everything in it;
the world, and those living in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the mountains sing together for joy
9 before Adonai, for he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly and the peoples fairly.
Acts 17:1 After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Sha’ul and Sila came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue. 2 According to his usual practice, Sha’ul went in; and on three Shabbats he gave them drashes from the Tanakh, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that “this Yeshua whom I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and threw in their lot with Sha’ul and Sila, as did a great many of the Greek men who were “God-fearers,” and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the unbelieving Jews grew jealous; so they got together some vicious men from the riffraff hanging around in the market square, collected a crowd and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s house, hoping to bring Sha’ul and Sila out to the mob. 6 But when they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city authorities and shouted, “These men who have turned the whole world upside down have come here too! 7 And Jason has let them stay in his home! All of them are defying the decrees of the Emperor; because they assert that there is another king, Yeshua!” 8 Their words threw the crowd and the authorities into a turmoil, 9 so that only after Jason and the others had posted bond did they let them go. 10 But as soon as night fell, the brothers sent Sha’ul and Sila off to Berea.
As soon as they arrived, they went to the synagogue. 11 Now the people here were of nobler character than the ones in Thessalonica; they eagerly welcomed the message, checking the Tanakh every day to see if the things Sha’ul was saying were true. 12 Many of them came to trust, as did a number of prominent Greek women and not a few Greek men.
13 But when the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Sha’ul in Berea as well, they went there too to make trouble and agitate the crowds. 14 The brothers sent Sha’ul away at once to go down to the seacoast, while Sila and Timothy stayed behind. 15 Sha’ul’s escort went with him as far as Athens, then left with instructions for Sila and Timothy to come as quickly as they could.
____________________________
The Lutheran Hour660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
____________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment