21 Days (of Encouragement) Before Christmas 2020

DECEMBER 19 LORD, I NEED YOU By Lorna Simcox Friends of Israel, Senior Editor

Romans 5:8 I’ve never been much of a swimmer. In fact, I doubt I’d be able to swim well enough to save my own life. But when my oldest daughter was 4, we went to North Carolina to visit family. My sister-in-law owned a marina, and my daughter and I made ourselves comfortable dangling our feet over the edge of the dock. The water beneath was deep, dark, and murky, and a strong current was carrying it out to the ocean. I thought, “I don’t think I’d have the courage to jump in and save her if she fell.” Not two seconds later, my child fell off the dock into the water and disappeared. In a split second, I jumped in after her, loving her so much that I gave no thought to the fact I couldn’t swim, or that we both might drown. I prayed, “Lord, I need you to find her.” Holding on to the dock, I felt my way toward the deeper water. As I swung my left leg up, it hit something. I reached down and scooped up my girl, lifting her high over my head and saving her life. That’s what Jesus did for us. We were all drowning in the deep, murky water of sin, and He jumped in to save us because of His great love for us. He came to earth to rescue us from eternal condemnation and offer us everlasting life through faith in Him. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). His love for us is so deep we may never truly understand it. All He asks is that we confess our sin and helplessness and let Him save us. “The one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). What better time of year than Christmas to acknowledge the greatest and most powerful love in the world, which is God’s love for you and me.

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