In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7
Fifty billion dollars is a lot of money.
It's not that I've ever had $50 billion, nor have I ever seen $50 billion in one place, at one time. Even so, I'm pretty sure $50 billion is a lot of cash.
According to an article carried last week by Bloomberg news, President-elect Barack Obama is asking Congress to approve somewhere around that amount to help pull America's big three automakers, GM, Ford, and Chrysler, out of their difficult financial situation.
Now, this devotion doesn't speak to the pros or the cons of that idea. I'm sure there are many arguments that can be made on both sides of the issue.
Nor is this devotion going to criticize the president elect. I am sure he has surrounded himself with a great many financially brilliant people whose advice he is hearing. Besides, my fiscal acumen hardly qualifies me to be a critic of anybody.
But you don't have to be a human calculator to know that $50 billion is a lot of money to bail someone out of their problems.
But it's not near as much as our Father was willing to pay so each us might be bailed out of our sinful situation.
Realizing we were lost and could not fix ourselves, the Lord said He would bring about the biggest bailout in history. This bailout wouldn't touch just one industry, or one period of time. It was designed to reach every person, in every generation.
Nor did God's bailout call for cash. It called for the suffering and sacrifice of His Son. Paul said it best: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."
Now, I don't know how people will react if and when Obama's bailout takes effect. I do know how we should respond to the Lord's bailout of sinners. And so do you.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for a spiritual bailout that was neither earned nor deserved, I give thanks. Now, I pray that my life may be filled with thanksgiving for the Son and the salvation His sacrifice provides. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 14-15 2 Timothy 1
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