Hero and Savior

TITLE: Hero and Savior
DATE:  July 5, 2019
TEXT:. 2 Corinthians 5:15  - ESV -15 and he- died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. I can remember way back to the first fishing lessons my brother and I got.

They came from our father who took us to Uncle Bill and Aunt Ella’s farm in Albion, Michigan. He went casting for some small-mouthed bass and we brought in  boxcars of perch, bluegills and sunfish  If you didn’t have something on the line in 45-seconds, it was an incredibly bad day.

I can certainly understand the joyful experience that was shared last month  31-year-old Christopher Schultz and his 3-year-old son. They were fishing off the bridge at Dead Shot Bay in some mighty fine weather.

Then the unexpected...the tragic.

The boy fell off the bridge and into Detroit Lake. According to those who were there, the lad had hardly touched the water before the father splashed into the water for a rescue. There was no debate, no discussion, no seeing the situation from different perspective.

The father did what was necessary to save his son.  

Christopher managed to reach his son. He grabbed hold and he started toward the shore.  It was a struggle keeping the boy and himself above water. Seeing the father’s great effort, other folk came to assist.  They got hold of the boy.
The father slipped  from their grasp.

The boy was saved and he sustained only minor injuries. The father’s body was found a few hours later. The coroner pronounced him “dead” at lakeside. Chelsie Schultz, Christopher’s wife says, “He’s a hero.” Chelsie also, I think will be a hero since  she will be raising their four children (all five-and-under)  on her own.
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I wonder, as that little 3-year old grows up, how will he feel when somebody tells him the story of his father’s sacrifice.

• Will be become resentful and say “who asked him to jump in, anyway?”
• Will he become humble in his gratitude knowing how much his father loved him?
• Will he think that this is the kind of thing every father does and it’s no big deal?

Now I suppose some of those answers seem preposterous.

They may seem that way, but I have seen people adopt all of those attitudes to the heavenly Father Who sacrificed His Son to save us from our sins. I do believe Christopher‘s jump qualified him for the title hero.

I think Jesus, Whose entire life was dedicated to the saving and forgiving of lost humanity is worthy of a greater title than that of hero. Perhaps we should call Him, Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, :Be with the little boy that we have heard about. Bless him and his entire family so they point to their father as an earthly hero and the Christ as their Savior for eternity. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

he devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this address https://www.newser.com/story/276796/father-of-4-dies-while-rescuing-son-from-lake.html: and the article written by .Arden Dier
The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html