Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. 1 Peter 1:8

Brandon Bakke of Fargo, North Dakota, was adopted at birth.

Now at the age of 11 he wants to know more about his biological parents. It was a need his adoptive parents understood. Together Bakke and his parents did the research and found out that his father, Terrence, had recently died and was buried in Chicago.

They also found out that, due to a lack of money, the grave of Terrence had no marker.

That bothered Bakke. It bothered him big time. Speaking to the media, he said, "I don't think anybody should go unknown in life." Indeed, his father's marker-less grave bothered him so much he decided to do something about it.

That's how it came to pass that Bakke spent his summer cutting lawns. He cut the lawns of neighbors and the lawns of strangers. He cut a lot of lawns and set aside every penny he made. Then, when he had enough, he went to the Dakota Monument Company and bought a headstone.

Bakke not only bought the headstone, he sat with the company's artists and helped design it.

All in all, Bakke showed considerable commitment in his desire to honor a man whom he had never met, but to whom he owed his life.

Bakke's story is truly beautiful, and it also ought to be ours.

Think about it. There are a couple of similarities.

* We, like Bakke, have been adopted. His adoption was through the court system, and ours was through the washing of Holy Baptism.

* We, like Bakke, ought to have a desire to know more about the Individual responsible for having given us life.

* We, like Bakke, ought to think this Person ought to be remembered.

* We, like Bakke, ought to offer our time and talents so others may know the Name of the Person responsible for making us who we are.

Of course, there are many differences between Bakke's story and ours. If I were asked to explain the most important of those differences, it would be this: while the body of Bakke's father lies in a Chicago graveyard, the final resting spot of our Savior can never be found. No marker which reads, "Here lies Jesus of Nazareth - May He Rest in Peace" can ever be set over any earthly location.

That is because our Savior, having fulfilled the Law, having resisted every temptation to sin, carried our transgressions to the cross, and died the death we deserved. Then, three days after His lifeless body had been put in the tomb, a living Lord Jesus emerged from the grave.

It is our living Savior whom we ought to share with the world.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You have done all that was necessary to give me life eternal. Now may I in gratitude live my days in thanks for what You accomplished. Let me tell others of Your great grace. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Jeremiah 25, 45-46    Hebrews 1

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