PLEASE NOTE: Today's devotion is filled with powerful images. Adults,
please read it over before you share it with anyone who is young. Thank
you. Pastor Ken Klaus.
Al-Shabaab is the local al-Qaeda group of
militants who attacked the Nairobi mall with grenades and assault
rifles.
Although they were intent on accomplishing generalized
murder, it appears the terrorists tried to zero in on foreigners and
Christians. They did their job well. The dozen-plus members of
al-Shabaab managed to slaughter more than 60 unprepared civilians.
This devotion deals with two people who were caught up in that
attack. One of those victims is a young lady, a radio personality by the
name of Sneha Kothari Mashru. The other is a teenage boy who has not
been identified.
Both of these individuals dropped to the floor
when the attacks began. Mashru dropped because of the gunfire; the boy
fell because he had been fatally shot. In a few moments the lad,
surrounded by an ever-widening pool of blood, stopped breathing. That
was when Mashru reached into the boy's pocket and took his cell phone.
She turned it off so an unexpected ring wouldn't draw the attention of
the attackers to her location.
Ms. Mashru couldn't help but
notice the phone was covered in blood--blood which was now on her
hands. Normally, she would have cringed at the sight. That day she did
something which normally would have been unthinkable. She said, "I took
a lot of his blood, (as) much (as) I could and I tried to put it on
myself."
Looking back on that day, she added, "I would still love
to know who he is and everything, because his blood probably protected
me from getting probably more injured or attacked...or dead."
When I read that story, like you, I couldn't help but think that is what
has happened to me. That's what John meant when he wrote in the book of
Revelation the blood of Jesus has cleansed me from all sin and my once
sinful soul is now made white as snow.
Yes, I know there are
differences. That teenaged boy didn't willingly die for someone as did
our Savior and when we are cleansed by Jesus' blood it is by the power
of the Holy Spirit and not our own doing.
Having said that, it is
still a vivid picture of how God's innocent Son shed His blood so we
might be protected from the slaughter, being brought about by sin, Satan
and death.
Like Ms. Mashru, I also wish I knew the teen's name so
I could share it with you, but I am incredibly thankful I have been
brought to faith in and know the Name of my Savior who has saved me by
His blood.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, far too often I fail to ponder
what Jesus had to do so I might be saved. For that I ask Your
forgiveness. Now may I give thanks for His sacrifice and the salvation
His blood has won for me. In the Name of Jesus I ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
