Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28
As presented on *The Lutheran Hour® by Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, February 22, 1959.
Christ’s ransom never fails. You cannot play dead after having been freed from the power that holds the world captive. To believe in Christ is to come alive.
In the old days when desirable young people were auctioned off as slaves, a young woman was offered to the highest bidder. Every time the price went up, a certain man would bid higher until finally he purchased this slave girl for himself. He paid a tremendous price, much larger than she would ordinarily have brought on the market. Quietly he handed her a slip of paper and then disappeared into the crowd. On it was written one word: “Free.” He had bought her and set her free. Frantically she looked around the crowd, endeavoring to catch sight of his face but she could not find him. In her frenzied search she cried out: “Who is this man?”
Well, you know who the man is. He is the subject of every one of these broadcasts: His ransom puts the little slip of paper into your hand this day no matter who you are or where you live or what kind of life you may have led. On that paper is written one word: “Free.”
You can treat this good news as if it were too good to be true. You can look upon it as having no value at all. Or you can think of it as being valuable for other people but not for you. It is for you. Jesus Christ bought your freedom. Glorify God in your body, for He has ransomed you.
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to You; take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for You. Amen.
Taken from A Message of Hope: Proclaiming the Cross (selections from messages broadcast on *The Lutheran Hour, celebrating 75 years of proclaiming the promise).
Copyright © 2006 by Lutheran Hour Ministries
*The Lutheran Hour is the longest-running Christian radio broadcast in the world. It is a production of Lutheran Hour Ministries. For more information, visit www.lutheranhour.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 1-2 Mark 12:1-27
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