OTHERS!
Romans 5:6-8
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Who would you be willing to die for? That is a penetrating question. Very seldom do people choose up sides and talk about death and dying, much less who you would be willing to sacrifice your life for.
This afternoon (Monday) I had a part in a Memorial Day Service at a local cemetery. One of those on the program was one of our United States Congressmen. He told a story about a young medic who was deployed to Iraq.
A roadside bomb exploded destroying a passenger vehicle. The Congressman explained that the terrorists many times use two explosive devices. When medics arrive to rescue the survivors the second is detonated to kill and maim them as well.
In this instance the medic disregarded his own welfare and rushed into the flaming vehicle to rescue a small Iraqi girl. She clung tight to his neck as they were air lifted out to an intensive care unit.
When he tried to put the small girl down, she screamed and clung to his neck. Permission was granted by his unit for him to remain with the girl. For three weeks, everyday he was by her side. With joy he accompanied her back home into the arms of her parents.
Wow! What a story! Here was a young American who was serving in a far away land and yet was willing to risk his own life to save a small child he had never seen before.
Back in the 60’s I served with a Senior Master Sergeant who was transferred to Saigon. He had only been there a few days when the movie theater he was in was attacked by a terrorist. The man threw a small explosive device into the center aisle. A young US Marine immediately leapt from his seat and threw himself over the bomb.
His act of courage cost him his own life, but saved countless lives who would otherwise have received much more of the blast. When Sgt. Ruben Luna called me upon returning home, he could not restrain himself from weeping about a young Marine he had never seen, who gave his life in such an act of courage.
Those are two examples of humans who placed their lives on the line for others. Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead not only gave His life for us - He became sin for us and paid the penalty (death) that we might have eternal life.
At the beginning of this devotional, I asked who you would be willing to die for. Now comes an even greater question: Have you received the sacrifice that Jesus gave for your sins. Have you repented (made an about face from your sinful ways) and have chosen to live for the Lord? Jesus died that we might be saved from death. Praise the Lord!
Pastor Cecil Thompson
Romans 5:6-8
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Who would you be willing to die for? That is a penetrating question. Very seldom do people choose up sides and talk about death and dying, much less who you would be willing to sacrifice your life for.
This afternoon (Monday) I had a part in a Memorial Day Service at a local cemetery. One of those on the program was one of our United States Congressmen. He told a story about a young medic who was deployed to Iraq.
A roadside bomb exploded destroying a passenger vehicle. The Congressman explained that the terrorists many times use two explosive devices. When medics arrive to rescue the survivors the second is detonated to kill and maim them as well.
In this instance the medic disregarded his own welfare and rushed into the flaming vehicle to rescue a small Iraqi girl. She clung tight to his neck as they were air lifted out to an intensive care unit.
When he tried to put the small girl down, she screamed and clung to his neck. Permission was granted by his unit for him to remain with the girl. For three weeks, everyday he was by her side. With joy he accompanied her back home into the arms of her parents.
Wow! What a story! Here was a young American who was serving in a far away land and yet was willing to risk his own life to save a small child he had never seen before.
Back in the 60’s I served with a Senior Master Sergeant who was transferred to Saigon. He had only been there a few days when the movie theater he was in was attacked by a terrorist. The man threw a small explosive device into the center aisle. A young US Marine immediately leapt from his seat and threw himself over the bomb.
His act of courage cost him his own life, but saved countless lives who would otherwise have received much more of the blast. When Sgt. Ruben Luna called me upon returning home, he could not restrain himself from weeping about a young Marine he had never seen, who gave his life in such an act of courage.
Those are two examples of humans who placed their lives on the line for others. Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead not only gave His life for us - He became sin for us and paid the penalty (death) that we might have eternal life.
At the beginning of this devotional, I asked who you would be willing to die for. Now comes an even greater question: Have you received the sacrifice that Jesus gave for your sins. Have you repented (made an about face from your sinful ways) and have chosen to live for the Lord? Jesus died that we might be saved from death. Praise the Lord!
Pastor Cecil Thompson
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