The Greatest Rescue Ever: December 20

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)

 There have been a lot of rescue events in the news these past months. Families rescued by boat from their flooded homes; babies rescued from burning homes and apartment buildings; individuals rescued from overturned cars by strangers. Rescue stories are part of the daily news, from tsunamis and floods and fires to the crumbling skyscrapers of 9/11.

 Amid these great rescue events, nothing can compare with what the Little Lord Jesus would do in His life, death, and resurrection. He would rescue the world from sin, death, and the devil. With His coming into the world and willingly going to Calvary's Cross, through this coming and going, He would give eternal life to all who would believe in Him.

Grace upon grace would come from the One who was the eternal Word. The Word who was made flesh. The Son of God who dwelt among us taking on human nature that we might become children of God, taking on mankind's greatest enemies and winning.

 During this Advent, may we repent, rededicate, and rejoice knowing that we are strangers here and heaven is our home because the greatest rescue event has taken place through the little, but almighty, Lord Jesus. We are God's Children, rescued in time and His for all eternity.

 Thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming one of us for all of us, giving Your all in life and death that we might have forgiveness and eternal life, Amen.

Rev. Layton L. Lemke (Ret.), Nya, Minnesota