For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

When I was at the airport, I had the opportunity to watch a mother feed her little boy, Jeffrey.

Actually, I should say I had the opportunity to watch Jeffrey not eat. You see, at the airport Jeffrey was surrounded by all kinds of people and sights and sounds he had never experienced before. As a result, Jeffrey went into sort of a sensory overload as his eyes and ears tried to take in everything.

That's why, when Jeffrey's mother reached into her oversized backpack and came up with a plastic spoon and a bottle of baby food, Jeffrey couldn't have cared less. Mother popped the cap off a nutritionally well-balanced bottle of something, which was colored a phosphorescent lime-green. Mom scooped out a spoonful of the green goop and held the offering out to Jeffrey's mouth.

Jeffrey's jaws clamped shut, his lips tightened into a slit, and he immediately turned his head away.

Next, mother tried the time-tested, "Here comes the airplane into the hanger," and she made an airplane sound. Then she made chugging sounds and cheerfully exclaimed, "Here comes the railroad train into the tunnel!"

Jeffrey missed both his plane and his train.

Then mother got cute; you know what I mean. Mom crooned, "Doesn't my widdle Jeffy weffy, wanna eatsy weatsy his foodsie woodsie?" The only thing Jeffy weffy did was look at his mother like she had lost her mindsey windsey.

By now mother had used all of her tricks, but one. She said, "Honey, this is really good. You'll like it. Even mommy likes it." And mommy did something extraordinary. She lifted the spoonful of room temperature, glow-in-the-dark, unidentifiable green stuff to her mother's mouth.

I wanted to shout, "Lady, don't do it!" But I didn't.

I was mesmerized as mommy actually put that green goop into her mouth, licked off the spoon, swallowed, smacked her lips, and smiled. I have known many brave men in my life but none who faced a terrible situation with greater courage than did Jeffrey's mother that day in the airport. She ate food she didn't want; she swallowed food she didn't need, so someone she loved might benefit.

Now that is a fairly lengthy story, and I wouldn't have spent time sharing it, if I didn't think it might give you the smallest inkling of the love Jesus showed for you when He came to earth as our Savior.

To rephrase what has already been stated: Jesus was born into a world that didn't want Him; walked among people who didn't appreciate Him; carried sins He hadn't committed, and was crucified for crimes of which He was innocent. Jesus lived and died so someone He loved might benefit.

Make that so everyone in this world might be given the opportunity to be brought to faith, forgiven of their sins, and be brought into the heavenly family of faith. And while I wouldn't make the sacrifice Jeffrey's mother made for him; I couldn't make the sacrifice Jesus made to save the world. No, only Jesus had the holiness, power and commitment to fulfill the Father's plan and promise to save us. That He did so, shows a dedication which cannot be understood; it can only be received by God-given faith.

With that God-given faith, I pray we all appreciate and give thanks for Jesus' sacrifice.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I stand in awe of Jesus' dedication to save humanity. May I never take Him for granted or minimize Your love, which sent Him into this world. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 137    Ezekiel 1-2    1 Timothy 2

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