For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

Many of us have heard the three, most powerful words in the English language are, "I love you."

That may be so, but I'm pretty sure the three most frequently spoken words are, "It's not fair."

All parents have heard their young ones whine: "It's not fair!" It wasn't fair that they don't get to stay up like other kids. It wasn't fair that they weren't allowed to ride their bikes across a six-lane highway. It wasn't fair they have to pick up their room. It's not fair the world doesn't appreciate them for their brilliance and breathtaking beauty. Summing it up, it's not fair that they don't get to do what everybody is getting to do.

Now if you parents think you're fed up with hearing "It's not fair," think how the Lord must feel as He hears countless humans complaining: "Lord, it's not fair! Why are You doing this to me?"

The truth is it's not fair to blame God for the things that are going wrong in our world. It's not fair because He's not responsible. When God finished His week's worth of creation, He surveyed everything His mind had manufactured and His hands had made. Content, He decreed it was all "very good" (see Genesis 1:31).

If you had been there, you would have noticed fairness as far as the eye could see. But then, because our ancestors thought the Lord was being unfair, the bottom fell out and perfect fairness in this world was lost. Ever since the moment humanity sinned, Adam and Eve's descendants have been shaking their fist at the heavens, blaming God for the results of their sin, shouting, "It's not fair!"

The truth is, all the grasping, all the greed, all the lust, lewdness, pain, prejudice, stealing, sin, sadness, sorrow and searching, have come because humanity has separated itself from our perfect God.

The only Person who can legitimately say, "It's not fair," is Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Savior.

Jesus could say it wasn't fair when the people of Nazareth turned their backs on Him; it wasn't fair when Jesus' family dismissed Him as a lunatic; it wasn't fair He was accused of using Satan's power when He healed the sick, and it wasn't fair when His church plotted His assassination. It wasn't fair when His best friends turned their backs on Him, nor was it fair when one denied Him and another betrayed Him. It wasn't fair when God's innocent Son was nailed to a cross for the sinners who were allowed to live.

No, it wasn't fair, but it was God's plan to save us.

So the Law might be fulfilled and the demands of justice met, it was necessary for Jesus to die. It was an unfairness He endured so that He might see His forgiven brothers and sisters be welcomed into heaven. Today, if you are one of those who are saved, give thanks.

And if you are not, then it is time to hear the Lord's invitation to repent, believe and be baptized.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks Your Son was willing to suffer all of life's unfairness so my sinful heart and soul might be cleansed and forgiven. May I share the wonders of this sacrifice with others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Savior asked His followers to share His story of salvation. Sadly, doing so can be frightening and intimidating. If you would like to learn how to be more comfortable fulfilling the Lord's request, Lutheran Hour Ministries is holding a SENT Outreach Conference in Detroit, covering the dates of July 24-27. For more information, see www.lhm.org/conference.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 96-98    Acts 17:1-15

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