Welcome to the Illustrator
Today’s Bible Verse:
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Talk about Unfairness
I wonder how old we have to get before we stop saying, “It’s not fair.”
The oldest person I ever met was 104. Even at that venerable age, she still used the words, “It’s not fair.” Maybe the “it’s not fair” expression is part of our human condition. Policemen tell me when they stop a speeder, they hear, “It’s not fair. Why are you ticketing me? Why don’t you go and catch some real crooks?”
Have you been passed over for a promotion at work? Did the job go to someone far less worthy? What did you say? “It’s not fair.” Have you gone to a high school reunion? Did someone show up looking younger than when they graduated? It’s not fair. When your parents made out their will, did they leave the lion’s share of the estate to your “good-for-nothing brother who never held down a job and was a constant source of embarrassment to the entire family?” Well, it wasn’t fair, was it?
In the past year, has your television conked out? Has your family vehicle become violently ill? Has your snow- blower refused to start any time the weather gets colder than 40 degrees above zero? I don’t have to be there to know these things happened the day after the warranty expired. As you chugged four aspirins, what was your shout that rattled windows in the neighboring county? You said, “It’s not fair!”
Jesus is the one Person who can legitimately say, “Life’s not fair.”
Still, you can search Scripture as often and as deeply as you want, and you will never find a single time when the Savior said, “It’s not fair.” To the church at Rome, the apostle Paul, under the Spirit’s direction, wrote, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Understand, God didn’t say, “First you have to repent, and then I’ll send My Son.” He didn’t tell us, “Let me see that you will appreciate His sacrifice, and I will send My Son.” God said none of those things. Instead, our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to be despised and denied, disrespected and rejected, harried and hated, to be maligned and murdered. No, it wasn’t fair. On the contrary, it was grace: unmerited, undeserved, unwanted and unappreciated that had Him come here.
Even though it wasn’t fair, Jesus never complained. He didn’t demand fairness as our sins were laid upon Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.
* When Jesus was beaten, He didn’t say, “It’s not fair!”
* When witnesses lied about Him, He didn’t argue, saying, “It’s not fair!”
* When they whipped Him, He didn’t cry out, “Stop! This isn’t fair!”
There was no demand for fairness when He was crowned with thorns and people spit in His face. When it came time for His greatest sacrifice, Jesus prayed the Father’s will should be done.
This He did because Jesus knew something we often forget: He had not come for fairness; He had come to give His life as a ransom. While we were sinners, Jesus came to die for us.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, from the beginning to the end of Your life You endured unfairness. This You suffered so I, the guilty, sinful soul, might be forgiven and adopted into the family of faith. May my words, thoughts and actions express my ongoing debt. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
Many years ago, I read a description of a genuine friend. Although I don’t remember who said it, I wrote it down and have kept it all these years.
Well, I want to assure you that the Lord has not forgotten or abandoned you. Although salvation doesn’t eliminate temptations, trials, and heartaches, Romans 8:28 says, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” However, we need to understand that His idea of good is higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9). We usually want Him to make us comfortable and happy, but His goal is so much greater than that: “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).
But what makes a church strong? You can’t tell by looking at the building or even at the number of people who attend. When I was traveling in a strange city several years ago, I saw three different church buildings that had been converted into a bank, a library, and a store. I couldn’t help but wonder what had caused them to close and how we might prevent this from happening to more churches. So let’s consider how we can make our local churches the kinds of places through which Christ can do His work.
Grace2Udaily 