Who Rescued Who?

Passing a car a couple days ago, I caught a glimpse of a bumper sticker in the shape of a doggie paw print. In the middle of the paw print were three words. "Who rescued who?"

It is very easy for me to slip into "God owes me" mode. I expect to be protected in storms, healed when I get sick and surrounded by people that care for me. To an extent, I live with a sense of entitlement. But what are these trifling things when compared to the greatest fear in any human heart? Death.

Before a perfect, holy God, we are disgusting. Our sin is intolerable, deserving of the most severe punishment. But by His own compassion, God sent Jesus. Rescuer. Savior. Perfecter. Jesus lived a perfect life--a life absolutely pleasing to the Lord. Yet in the midst of undeserved death on a cross, God turned His face, allowing the brutality for my salvation. For your salvation. Rising three days later, Jesus conquered death once & for all.

God has shattered the fear above all fears. He has destroyed the pain above all pains. How this can become mundane, I will never understand. It is anything but normal. Anything but expected. Anything but deserved.

We owe Him our praise, devotion, first fruits, and our best.

The next time I start sulking about a poor grade or tiring day of work.....who rescued who?


"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." -Colossians 1:13-14