Romans 5:6 "At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."
When a fireman rescues an aged man from the ledge of his old burning hotel; when a lifeguard pulls a drowning youth from the swimming pool and gives mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, restoring breath to the unconscious lad; or when a lumberjack pushes a man out of the way of a falling log, we join in thoughts of thanksgiving for the rescued ones. We hope someone will be around to help us in similar situations.
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not wait for us to get ourselves into a safe or comfortable position before He came to an easy rescue. He saw us as we were -- utterly helpless in sin. He came to give us a new life. That's mercy! That's courage! That's the undeserved grace of God!
Our Lord does not forsake us in the problems and messes we create or others impose on us. As in love He once gave Himself to restore us to unity with our heavenly Father through the forgiveness of sins, so He will be with us in love today and tomorrow. We rejoice in God, who shows His love for us, even when we fail to recognize His hand at work behind the scenes of life. He gives help to the weak and helpless.
PRAYER: Lord, give me grace to change the things I can, strength to accept the unchangeable, and wisdom to know the difference. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 27-28 Mark 1:23-45
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