Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and pleas for mercy. Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live. Psalms 116:1-2

Mothers are a mystery to me.

Now, I know that everybody's mother is special, but this is about a special specialness that, from what I have been told, is shared by almost all moms.

See if this story, remembered from a time when our children were little, sounds familiar.

* Pamie would go to bed. Of course, being married to a pastor that didn't mean the phone stopped ringing. But no matter how much the phone rang, Pam could sleep through it.

* A fire engine or ambulance might go by the house, but Pam could sleep through that.

* Our neighborhood was visited by the occasional car that had its music amped up to the maximum, but that didn't bring a stir from my wife.

* I could raid the fridge and drop a dish, but she didn't budge from her dreaming.

Then the special thing happened. From the opposite end of the house would come a little voice saying, "Mommy." Instantly, Pamie was up and rushing to the little one who had called for her.

Back then, and even now, I wondered how a mother can selectively hear the cry of a child when she has successfully ignored so many other sounds which are louder? When I talked to Pam and other mothers, they offer the same reply, "I hear the sound which is important to me."

Of course, that's not the only mystery of life that has confounded me. Here's another: I don't understand what there was about sinful humanity that motivated Jesus to come down from heaven. It's not that this world is such a wonderful place in which to live, compared to paradise. Having read the evening paper I know that humanity is not always friendly, considerate or caring.

Why would Jesus come?

It's not because being a Sacrificial Lamb is an easy job. Before He was conceived by the Spirit, Jesus knew His life was going to be offered up as the sacrifice that would rescue us.

So, why did Jesus come? It's not as if God doesn't have other things to do.

I believe Jesus came because God heard the cries of millions of helpless souls who were going to spend eternity in hell, if He didn't come to buy us back. Jesus came to redeem us and make sure those who believe on Him will never die.

Maybe I can understand and appreciate His love a little better if I think of Him as being like a good mother: He hears the sounds that are important to Him. And there is no sound more important than that of a lost soul who cries out to be saved ...unless it's the beautiful praises of His people giving thanks for a Savior who came down from heaven to trade His life for ours.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks You have heard my cries and come to save me. In all I do may I show gratitude for the sacrifice of Your life, death and resurrection. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 2Kings 1-3    James 1

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