Why?

TITLE: Why?
DATE: December 28, 2018
TEXT: John 3:16-17 - (ESV) -  “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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20-year-old Hunter Shamatt was going to his sister’s wedding in Las Vegas. Attending a special family celebration was a good thing.

When Hunter Shamatt switched planes in Las Vegas, he did so without his wallet… an error not discovered for a few hours. Losing his wallet was a bad thing.

A few days later Hunter Shamatt received a package with a note which read, “Found this on a Frontier flight from Omaha to Denver, Row 12, seat F wedged between seat and wall.” For Hunter this could have been a good or a bad moment. If his cash and cards were there, that would have been good; if his wallet was empty well, that might have been disastrous.

The letter continued, “Thought you might want it back. All the best. TB PS: I rounded your cash up to an even $100 so you could celebrate getting your wallet back. Have fun!!!"

Good news? That was magnificent news. Not only had a total stranger returned everything Hunter had lost… the stranger had added $40.00 of his own money.

The question is, ‘WHY?”

Well, I can give you an answer: The good-deed-doer was discovered. His name is Todd Brown and he works for Applied Underwriters of Omaha. When Todd was asked about his motivation he replied,  It's also a sort of habit: "When I send my mom a card, I still put a dollar in there because it feels good when you open it."

Please understand, when Todd said, “a dollar” in the above paragraph he didn’t mean that exact amount. A fellow who gives $40 to a total stranger is not going to be a cheapskate with his own mom. The point is: it’s a habit and Todd likes the results.

Some 2,000 years ago our heavenly Father sent His Son into this world to be our Savior. It was an act of love, but it was not done to help a total stranger. No, God did this gracious act for His own, lost, rebellious children. He sent His Son to be a sacrifice for those sinful, souls who had rejected and despised their Maker’s authority.

The question is, ‘Why did He do it?”

Well, I can give you an answer… and it’s not because sacrificing His Son was a habit. The sending of Jesus Christ to take away our sins was a one-time event. It had never happened before; it will never happen again. No, sending His Son as our Substitute was not a habit sort of thing.

The question still stands, ‘Why did God sent His Son?”

Well, I can give you an answer. God, Himself says “why.” He sent His Son…” in order that the world might be saved through him.”

In short, God liked the results.

And that is a good thing.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have done all which was necessary to win our forgiveness and bring us back to the family of faith. May we prove grateful for this loving act In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

The story which served as inspiration for this Daily Devo was written by the editors of Newser on December 2, 2018. The website where he article can be found is: http://www.newser.com/story/267759/his-lost-wallet-came-back-with-something-extra-inside.html?
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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