Throughout
the ages, primitive cultures sacrificed their children to appease their gods.
The value of a life meant little to them. In some current cultures, women are
treated like possession, and worse than the animals in some cases.
Nowadays,
there is a growing trend where many animals suffer horrendous abuse and neglect,
and many are on the growing extinction list. Yet, people are starting to care
more for the welfare of these animals and increasing our efforts to rescue and
to adopt them.
Sadly,
human life is now considered disposable - even into the last trimester. Although
a heartbeat commences before most women even know they are pregnant, many have
no qualms about aborting an "inconvenience" that science describes as
a glob of cells.
Mass
shootings in schools and other public places occur more and more often. The
shooter has no conscience about their actions, and they do not value their own
life or anyone else's. It is hard to fathom the reason for their blatant
disregard of the sanctity of life.
We
discard our aging parents too, using our busy lifestyle as an excuse to ignore
their need for a relationship with us. We rarely visit them, and we often tuck
them away in commercial group homes - many of which are sued, because they cared
little for their residents' welfare and dignity.
On
the other hand, Almighty God cared so much for the salvation of His creation
that He took on the form of a man, and offered Himself as a sacrifice to redeem
anyone humble and courageous enough to submit their life to His plan for them
(Ephesians 2:8-10).
If
we live very long, we could never come close to thanking Jesus adequately for
serving as the sacrificial Lamb, who paid the penalty for our sins. As the song
states, "He lived to die, rejected and alone. Like a rose, trampled on the
ground, He took the fall and thought of me above all." ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3imWgT-FHY )
Prayer:
Father
God, we are reduced to a puddle of grief and tears when we contemplate what
Jesus endured to compensate for the penalty of our individual sins. We are
humbled and repentant when we consider the price Jesus paid to insure that our
life is special, delivered and saved. He is Your only begotten Son, but He died
so that whoever desires redemption may be adopted as children in Your family -
coheirs with Jesus, our Savior and our King (Revelation 22:17; Romans 8:17).
Strengthen
us in our inner being so that Christ may dwell in our heart through faith in an
ever-increasing depth of unity of spirit and intimacy of heart and soul with
You (Ephesians 3:14-21). Teach us to consult You for Your plans for us in each
moment of time (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:33). Help us to place the same value
on human life that You do - not only for their physical welfare, but also for
the eternal destination of everyone You bring our way.
Thought
for the Day:
God's
Word encourages us to be strong and courageous, without any fear for our future,
because He will not fail or forsake us; in fact, God strengthens us, helps us,
and holds us up in His right hand; His grace is always sufficient for us and is
made perfect in our human weakness, so that the power of Christ abides in us, and
manifests through us.
-
Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 20:4, 31:6; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
