One Of Us

TITLE: One Of Us
DATE: March 4, 2019
TEXT: 2 Corinthians 5: 17-19  - ESV - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation
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Shannon Grimm is a kindergarten teacher in Houston, Texas. I don’t know her, but I think I would like her.

You probably would, too. Let me tell you a very short story about Shannon. Not so long ago she noticed that one of her students was being picked on by other members of the class .Specifically they were making fun of the girl’s very short hair. They were saying the girl “looked like a boy.”

Those comments didn’t sit very well with the teacher… but how could she correct the problem without making it worse? She spoke to the class, but many of the students didn’t seem to catch the message. Sure, she could punish various students for the nasty and hurtful things they had been saying, but past experience said that following that route could often escalate and deepen the divisions in the classroom.

Finally Shannon decided to make an incredible sacrifice. She cut her hair.

That’s right, the teacher cut her beautiful, shining, waist-length hair. The class was speechless when she walked in with a new pixie-cut and matching hair bows for herself and the student who had been being bullied.

And how does the student feel about what her instructor has done? I can tell you this… in an interview, when the teacher asked the five-year-old, “Tell me, who’s beautiful?”; the child smiled and said “Me.”

When she was asked about how she felt about her sacrifice Shannon says “it was a small price to pay for brightening a child’s life.“ When I think about what the teacher did, I am amazed that she would be willing to make that kind of sacrifice.
More than 2,000 years ago our Savior entered this world. Since our first ancestors fell into sin humanity had been condemned. Because of our sinful nature it was impossible for us to do anything to free ourselves. We were lost; we were condemned.

Seeing out plight, the Father in heaven had mercy on us. But how could our destiny be changed? There was only one way. Someone had to take our place. And not just any Someone.

• This Someone has to be perfect enough to keep the commandments perfectly.
• He had to be able to resist all of Satan’s temptations and the world’s enticements. AND
• He had to be able to conquer death.

The only Someone Who could do all this was Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Savior.

And so it came to pass that Jesus came into this world and did all which was necessary to procure our forgiveness and reconcile us with His Father. From His first breath in Bethlehem to His last cry from the cross Jesus became one of us and having taken our place has won salvation for all who are given faith in the Redeemer .

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may I always be grateful that Jesus became one of us so that I might be forgiven, reconciled and saved. In His Name, I ask it. Amen.

Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by Arden Dier for Newser on February 19, 2019 .  Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active: http://www.newser.com/story/271531/kids-said-she-looked-like-a-boy-then-her-teacher-got-same-haircut.html

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html