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Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Real Love" for Wednesday, May 24, 2017
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Romans 5:7-8 - For one will scarcely die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die -- but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
On January 1, 1968, the Federal Government's seat belt law went into effect. After that date all vehicles had to be equipped with seat belts. From 1968 to 1975 all the States in the Union adopted child car-seat laws, which were to help protect youngsters who were riding in vehicles.
The question for our Daily Devotioners is this: what protected children when they were in the car before car seats and safety belts? (Youngsters may want to visit with grandma or grandpa for the answer to this question.) The answer is whenever an accident or a fast stop seemed imminent, mother would stretch out her arm to hold the passengers and children securely in their seats.
A mother's arms are wonderful things, indeed. They are able to enfold a child who is hurting, or they can push a little one to safety. As proof, I share the story of Diane Aluska and her 16-year-old daughter Jenna.
This past Mother's Day the two were coming from Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst, New York. They left worship and stopped at a donut shop. As they exited the shop, Diane saw a Toyota Corolla racing toward them in reverse. At the wheel of that vehicle was an 80-year-old lady who had mistakenly put her car into reverse and stepped on the gas.
In far less time than it takes to tell, Diane pushed her girl out of the path of the car. The daughter received only a glancing blow from the Toyota, while the mother took the full force of the vehicle's momentum.
Both mom and daughter were taken to the same hospital. The daughter lived, while mom did not.
That story shows the power of a mother's love is both tragic and uplifting; it is sorrowful, beautiful, and inspirational. One could easily wonder if there is any form of love that might be equal to, or even better than, this mother's sacrifice.
While I personally stand in awe of Diane's sacrificial commitment, there is no question that, if she had had a choice, things would not have happened as they did. By that I mean, if Diane could have slowed down, or sped up their activities so the duo could have completely avoided that Toyota, she would gladly have done so.
In contrast, we see our Lord's divine love. We see Jesus who was born into this world for the purpose of fulfilling the Law and carrying our sins to the cross, where His life paid their price. Rather than running from His substitutionary death, Jesus embraced it so we might be saved.
We also need to remember Diane died for her own loving daughter. She might not have been similarly inclined to do the same for someone else's child. In contrast, the Bible reminds us that while "one will scarcely die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die -- but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
And that, my friend, is what love is all about.THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that I who have received such unearned love may reflect it to all those around me. May the lost and unloved be brought to see the greatness of Your saving grace. This I ask in my Redeemer's Name. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written By Daniel Prendergast, Kevin Sheehan, and Priscilla DeGregory for the New York Post on May 14, 2017. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written. Please click here.
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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
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Psalms 12:1 (0) For the leader. On sh’minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David:
2 (1) Help, Adonai! For no one godly is left;
the faithful have vanished from humankind.
3 (2) They all tell lies to each other,
flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.
4 (3) May Adonai cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks so proudly,
5 (4) those who say, “By our tongues, we will prevail;
our lips are with us. Who can master us?”
6 (5) “Because the poor are oppressed,
because the needy are groaning,
I will now rise up,” says Adonai,
“and grant security to those whom they scorn.”
7 (6) The words of Adonai are pure words,
silver in a melting-pot set in the earth,
refined and purified seven times over.
8 (7) You, Adonai, protect us;
guard us forever from this generation —
9 (8) the wicked strut about everywhere
when vileness is held in general esteem.
13:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
2 (1) How long, Adonai?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
3 (2) How long must I keep asking myself what to do,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long must my enemy dominate me?
4 (3) Look, and answer me, Adonai my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.
5 (4) Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”;
and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.
6 (5) But I trust in your grace,
my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
(6) I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me
even more than I need.
14:1 (0) For the leader. By David:
(1) Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.
2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
4 Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
5 There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
6 You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.
7 How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!
30 Many people who heard him say these things trusted in him. 31 So Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted him, “If you obey what I say, then you are really my talmidim, 32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered, “We are the seed of Avraham and have never been slaves to anyone; so what do you mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now a slave does not remain with a family forever, but a son does remain with it forever. 36 So if the Son frees you, you will really be free! 37 I know you are the seed of Avraham. Yet you are out to kill me, because what I am saying makes no headway in you. 38 I say what my Father has shown me; you do what your father has told you!”
39 They answered him, “Our father is Avraham.” Yeshua replied, “If you are children of Avraham, then do the things Avraham did! 40 As it is, you are out to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Avraham did nothing like that! 41 You are doing the things your father does.” “We’re not illegitimate children!” they said to him. “We have only one Father — God!” 42 Yeshua replied to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me; because I came out from God; and now I have arrived here. I did not come on my own; he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I’m saying? Because you can’t bear to listen to my message. 44 You belong to your father, Satan, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. From the start he was a murderer, and he has never stood by the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is speaking in character; because he is a liar — indeed, the inventor of the lie! 45 But as for me, because I tell the truth you don’t believe me. 46 Which one of you can show me where I’m wrong? If I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God listens to what God says; the reason you don’t listen is that you don’t belong to God.”
48 The Judeans answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying you are from Shomron and have a demon?” 49 Yeshua replied, “Me? I have no demon. I am honoring my Father. But you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking praise for myself. There is One who is seeking it, and he is the judge. 51 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever obeys my teaching will never see death.”
52 The Judeans said to him, “Now we know for sure that you have a demon! Avraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever obeys my teaching will never taste death.’ 53 Avraham avinu died; you aren’t greater than he, are you? And the prophets also died. Who do you think you are?” 54 Yeshua answered, “If I praise myself, my praise counts for nothing. The One who is praising me is my Father, the very one about whom you keep saying, ‘He is our God.’ 55 Now you have not known him, but I do know him; indeed, if I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you! But I do know him, and I obey his word. 56 Avraham, your father, was glad that he would see my day; then he saw it and was overjoyed.”
57 “Why, you’re not yet fifty years old,” the Judeans replied, “and you have seen Avraham?” 58 Yeshua said to them, “Yes, indeed! Before Avraham came into being, I AM!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at him; but Yeshua was hidden and left the Temple grounds.
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Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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