Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16

The British-made McLaren 650S is the stuff automotive dreams are made of.

Car lovers will drool when I tell them this supercar has a V-8 engine which produces 641 horsepower. That horsepower, in the hands of an expert, can take the McLaren from 0 to 62 mph in three seconds. It hits 100 mph in six seconds and has a top speed of 207.

For those of you who are not car lovers, I can tell you the McLaren goes really, really fast.

There's one other thing you probably should know about the McLaren. That vehicle's speed comes at a price: a rather stiff price. In the case of the McLaren 650S, the sticker says you can have such a vehicle if you plunk down $265,000.

Recently, such a vehicle was delivered to a well-heeled enthusiast in Essex, England.

Understandably, the man was excited. He and his friends toasted the four-wheeled acquisition with a bottle of champagne. Then the owner took his new McLaren, along with a friend, out on the open road, for a test spin.

On the test drive they found out one other fact about the McLaren. They discovered the McLaren's state-of-the-art carbon-fiber body is not a match for a tree. At a high speed, the McLaren disintegrates and the tree stays standing. And the owner, well, the owner has lost a very large chunk of change.

A tragedy? Absolutely!

But it is not near as big a tragedy as those folks who walk away from the forgiveness and salvation that has been won for them through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of God's Son, our Savior, Jesus.

Now I know these people did not pay for their redemption. They couldn't, and Jesus did.

Now you might think such a costly gift might be appreciated, cherished and valued. Yes, you might think that, but in some cases that is not the case. There are some folks who abuse, misuse and disregard what Christ has done and the forgiving faith the Holy Spirit offers.

It's the spiritual equivalent of wrapping a McLaren around a tree.

No, it's worse than that. In the true story at the beginning of this devotion, the owner and his friend walked away from the accident. That is not going to happen to those who deliberately deny or disregard God's great and gracious gift. On Judgment Day they will find they have lost far more than a car.

Without faith they will have lost their one chance for heaven, which is why we pray for them today.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I give thanks for Jesus' sacrifice and the Holy Spirit's gift of faith. But I also pray for those who treat these saving kindnesses with disdain. Touch them and give them an appreciation for the Savior whose life was the sacrifice that has freed them. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 4-6    John 7:1-27

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