Thank You, God!

Jesus redeemed us to God by His blood. He paid the ultimate price, His life, so we could be forgiven, live life on purpose, and go to heaven when we die.

Thank You, God!

"And they sang a new song, saying:
'You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.'"

(Revelation 5:9)

With followers of Jesus all over the world, our church celebrated Good Friday. We had a wonderful time of worshiping Jesus, singing praises to Him, and observing the Lord's Supper. Like our annual Christmas Eve service, many people attended. It was a somber yet joyous time. As we focused on the death of Jesus on the cross for the sins of the world, we were once again moved to reverence and deep appreciation to Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. As our biblical text for today states so powerfully, Jesus redeemed us to God by His blood. He paid the ultimate price, His very life, so we could be forgiven, live a life on purpose, and go to heaven when we die. Praise You, thank You, oh God!

As we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus for our forgiveness, I think about those who also gave their lives, paying the ultimate price to rescue others. One example is Jason Dunham, a US Marine who served in Karabilah, Iraq. While searching a line of vehicles after insurgents attacked a Marine convoy, Jason approached a Toyota Land Cruiser. A man jumped out and started wrestling Dunham. Then there was an explosion. When Kilo commander Captain Trent Gipson came to the scene a few minutes later, he found Dunham's helmet shattered in pieces all over the ground. A couple of weeks earlier, Dunham and fellow Marines discussed if it were possible to remove one's helmet quickly enough to cover a grenade. His fellow Marines said it was not possible, but Dunham told them to time him and in one second, he removed his helmet and slammed it to the ground, proving it could be done very quickly. On that day in Karabilah, Dunham had done exactly what he told his Marines he could do. He absorbed the blast of the grenade with his helmet. It cost him his life but saved two other Marines. Captain Gipson said of Dunham, "He always looked after others before he looked after himself. So that was a very natural thing for him to do, to cover up that grenade in order to protect the Marines around him. . . . He was a man of character, and he led not by intimidation but by example." ("Soldier's Job Is in Harm's Way", Times Record, November 15, 2009, p. 1, 3)

This Marine's heroic act reminds me of Jesus. He too looked after others first. Jesus was a person of perfect character and integrity, and He led by example, not intimidation. As you think about the Savior's love for you today, pause a moment, and give Him praise. Thank Him for paying the ultimate price for your soul. Ask the Lord how you can go forward today and be a man or woman of character, putting others before yourself.