A good, many years ago, during a Massachusetts winter, a brother and
sister, nine and eleven years old, were walking on the ice of a river.
They hit a thin patch; the ice gave way, and they fell through.
Kicking to the surface, they yelled for help.
Summoned by their
screams, a man came running. He jumped into the water and tried to help
both children. It was an incredibly difficult thing for him to do.
Seeing that the man was losing the battle the nine-year-old boy shouted,
"Never mind me. Save Annette!"
That's what happened. The man
saved Annette; the boy died.
I've often wondered why did the boy
call out, "Never mind me. Save Annette!"
Was it a rational
decision? Did he debate the matter? After weighing the pros and cons,
did he conclude he would rather see his sister saved than himself?
Anybody who thinks that has never been in ice-cold water.
No, the
boy didn't have the kind of time necessary to put the pros and cons onto
the scale.
What happened was this: that boy, that Christian boy,
made his self-sacrificing statement, because it was part of him. From
his home, from his church, from parents and grandparents, from a long
line of volunteer and paid teachers, he had learned to try and do as the
Savior had done for him.
Now you and I both know it's not normal
to say, "Never mind me. Save Annette."
It's not normal, but that
is what Jesus did for us. Look once again at His prayer in the Garden of
Gethsemane. True, the Savior doesn't mention Annette, nor does He call
out our specific names. Even so, Jesus' prayer basically states,
"Father, never mind Me. Save the world."
This, of course, is what
happened. Jesus died and the world was redeemed. Now all who are brought
to faith in the Savior are given forgiveness and eternal life.
And what will happen if we, in the Savior's Name, make sacrifices for
others? I can't tell you that, but I do know today tens of thousands of
people have heard the story of a Christian boy who said, "Never mind me.
Save Annette."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the world tells me I am
supposed to watch out for number one. As a Christian, I agree. Because
of Jesus, You are number one in my life. May all I do glorify and show
my thanks to You. In the Savior's Name I ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken
Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries, all rights reserved; not to be duplicated
without permission.
Never Mind Me
Today's Bible Verse:
"And He (Jesus) withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt
down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if You are willing, remove this cup
from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.' And there
appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him." (Luke 22:41-43)
Never Mind Me
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