“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” (John 10:17-18)

Read: 2 Kings 20:1-19, 2 Chronicles 32:24-31, Isaiah 38:1 – 39:8, 

Relate: A team of eight men, Army Rangers, are sent out on what basically amounts to a suicide mission to rescue one soldier. Captain Miller and his team are some of the army’s best. The one soldier they are sent to retrieve hasn’t really done anything. His only value is in the fact that his three brothers all died on the same day and the army wanted to be able send at least one child back to mommy. Seriously. That’s it. Seven elite men and one cowardly translator are all sent out to die in the hopes of rescuing one other person who really isn’t worth it. They all do it. They sacrifice their lives so that Private Ryan might be saved. Why? Because they were given orders from above.

React: I’m not worth it. When you look at who Jesus is and who I am, I am just not worth it. Neither are you. None of us are. Like those Rangers, Jesus has voluntarily stepped up to the line. He willingly picked up that cross. He chose to walk the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering, for you… for me. He died so that I might be saved. It wasn’t an even trade. It wasn’t even close. Unlike Private Ryan, I can’t look back at the end of my life and wonder if I have made that sacrifice worth it. It won’t be. Never. He is God. Me? The only value I have is in the fact that He was given a command from above. No matter how crazy, how fubar, that order might look where I sit, Jesus willingly lay down His life so that I might live. He made the trade.

Respond: 

God, I am so unworthy. It is not fitting that for me, Your Son should die. But it is done. All I can do now is be grateful. All I can do is strive to live up to the value You have seen in me even though I know that I will never be able to come close. I can try my best but it will never be worth it. God for me, Your life for mine… the concept is staggering. It is mind blowing. Thank You. It is all I can say.