Read
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Reflect
We don’t hear about this so much anymore, but I recall a time not so long ago when kidnappings were in the news frequently. In the 1980s and 1990s, it seemed like you could count on there being a story almost monthly about a child being abducted from his or her parents and held for ransom. The looks on the faces of those parents left an indelible impression on me.
So, what would you do if your child was abducted? How would you respond to a kidnapper’s request for $50,000 or $100,000 before your child was returned? I think every parent I know would sell practically everything they own in an attempt to raise the money, and most would be willing to work for free if it meant getting the money they needed to secure their child’s safety.
Take a few seconds to imagine this scenario. After you get the message that your child has been kidnapped, you go to work selling everything you have and then borrowing the rest of the money. You finally get all of the cash together, and you set up the money drop. After the exchange is made your child is set free, and your heart soars as you see him coming toward you. You run to hug and kiss him and welcome him home – only to have the child push you away and shout, “Why did you ransom me? I didn’t care whether or not I was released or if I ever came home!”
This story seems far-fetched in a physical sense, but it’s all too real in a spiritual sense. God the Father, in His ultimate desire to ransom us from the kidnapper, Satan, gave up His Son for you and for me. And yet, so many people discard that sacrifice as unnecessary and meaningless. Even those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior can disrespect the Lord’s sacrifice when they embrace sin and live their lives contrary to the Lord’s will.
Today, make sure you thank the Lord for paying your ransom. It cost Him terribly, and He would love to hear a word of thanks from each of us for making the exchange on our behalf. But more than that, make sure the life you live this day is an offering to the Lord that shows Him – and the world – that you are a child of the most loving Father.
Reflection copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt and Charles Fulton.
