Angus McGillivray was a strong, strapping Scotsman. He was also a
survivor.
Being a survivor was important because McGillivray was
living in a World War II Japanese prisoner of war camp. "Living" might
be too kind a word for his situation. This camp was a survival of the
fittest kind of place. Any facade of civilization or compassion the
inmates had once possessed had long since been removed.
As I
said, McGillivray was a survivor. The only problem was he didn't
survive. Word spread around the camp that the Scotsman was gone and that
the Japanese weren't at fault.
Eventually, those around
McGillivray managed to figure things out. Scottish soldiers who came
from the same village felt responsible for each other. "Looking out for
his buddy" was what McGillivray had been doing for a wounded, childhood
pal. Everyone knew there was no hope for the man, but McGillivray felt
he had to try.
That's why, when his friend's blanket was stolen,
McGillivray "found" him another, by giving the sick man his own. He
shared his meager rations as well. His sacrifice paid off. His friend
began to mend; his body started to heal. That's when McGillivray died.
"Exhaustion and starvation" was the verdict of the doctors.
But
everybody knew the doctors were wrong. The soldiers knew McGillivray had
died because he had done everything -- given everything -- to save his
friend's life.
You know, I think a person could live to a ripe
old age without ever having a friend like McGillivray.
Indeed,
many people, maybe even some of you reading this Daily Devotion, think
you have no such friend. But you do. Now, when I say that you have such
a friend most of you may start thumbing through your mental card file of
acquaintances and contacts. If you are blessed, you may find a friend or
two like that. But I'm not talking about just any, old someone. I'm
talking about the Individual who is the greatest love you and this world
will ever know. I'm talking about Someone who lived for you and died for
you.
I'm speaking of Jesus, God's Son, who came to this world to
redeem humanity. Of course, when I say that, the world mutters, "Oh,
Him," and Christians say, "I knew that already."
I'm sure you
did. But did you ever think of Jesus in terms of Angus McGillivray?
We were Jesus' dying friends. So we might be saved, Jesus, like
McGillivray, made sacrifices. Indeed, He put everything He had,
everything He was, into that job of rescuing us from humankind's
enemies. Wealth, family, a long future -- these things, and many more --
were daily sacrificed as Jesus went about the business of saving us.
Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross proves the depth of His
commitment, the quality of His love. His resurrection on the third day
is proof that He has been successful.
Indeed, our peace of mind
and faith in Him is evidence that Jesus has rescued us from our
oppressors.
You know, when those men in McGillivray's camp
thought about what he had done, they changed. They started acting more
like the Scotsman, and the camp was transformed as they learned to watch
out for each other. No one told them to do this.
They just did
it.
Just as we who have been saved ought to care for others --
not because we have to, but because we want to.
THE PRAYER: Dear
Lord, every day of Jesus' life was a day committed to saving me. I give
thanks for His work of redemption and the Holy Spirit's call to faith.
May I show my appreciation by caring for others. In the Savior's Name I
ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken
Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
