For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Jane Hambleton of Des Moines, Iowa, has style.

You have to have a lot of style when you have laid claim to the self-adopted title, the “meanest mom on the planet”.

You can be forgiven if you wonder exactly what Jane has done to deserve such a moniker. The answer is simple. When Jane gave her son a car for Thanksgiving, with the car came a list of rules. It was a short list of rules: “No booze” and “Keep the car locked”.

Unfortunately, one of those rules was broken and Jane decided to put her boy’s car on the market. She took out an ad in the local paper that reads:

"OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

So far Jane has received more than 70 phone calls. Many of these have come from emergency room technicians, nurses, and school counselors. Not a single one of those calls criticized Jane for being cruel, heartless, or out of control.

Now the reason I find Jane’s story relevant for a daily devotion is this: God has said, “The wages of sin is death.” Unfortunately, the world hasn’t taken Him seriously. Far too many think, “God wouldn’t punish us for having committed a few, small transgressions.”

Well, folks, God’s not cruel, but He is a Lord of His Word and He will punish sinners for their actions.

God will punish us sinners or else He will punish a heaven-sent Substitute. Amazingly, along with being a God of justice, God is also a God of grace. By God’s grace, Jesus was born into this world to take our place, to fulfill the law we have broken, to take our punishment. This Jesus did so we might be free of punishment and condemnation.

As Paul said, “The free Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I confess I have broken Your commandments and am deserving of a just punishment. That Your Son has taken my sentence upon Himself and paid the price for my forgiveness causes me to give You my most heartfelt thanks. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Job 22-24    Matthew 12:1-23

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