Verse of the Day - Matthew 20:28

That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.
~ Matthew 20:28 (The Msg)

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In the film, "Man on Fire," Denzel Washington plays Creasy, an aging, drinking mercenary who takes a job in Mexico, guarding a young girl of a wealthy, mixed-race family. Since corruption runs rampant, and kidnapping is big business there, it seems the only way to protect their child. When she is kidnapped despite his best efforts and believes she's already dead, he deals some horrific blows to those he can pin for the crime. When he later learns that she isn't dead but is still in the hands of her captor, he takes aim at the kidnapper's brother, kidnapping him and offering a deal -- the girl, for the brother returned alive . . . and Creasy himself. Because it got personal, the kidnapper wanted the blood of Creasy for what he'd done -- the girl had become somewhat secondary.

As the final human exchange is made on a lonely bridge in rural Mexico, the little girl and Creasy meet in the middle and hug one last time. She continues on to her waiting mom, and Creasy walks a death walk over the bridge toward the waiting captors. As he drives away with those he knows will torture and kill him, you can see in his eyes that he knows he did the right thing, the only thing -- giving his life for the one he loved. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X6tHmyLvUQ

This film is brutal and violent, but is also filled with love and passion, commitment and sacrifice. This film shows me Jesus. He gave His life as a ransom for the kidnapper of my soul. And when Jesus walked the hill and died the death, I was free. Free, if I choose to accept His sacrifice as my own. Free, if I believe that His blood is enough to pay the ransom.

You see, there are no guns that tie us to the devil and death. There are no real prison bars or chains we can see. It is spiritual, this kidnapping, and the remedy is a spiritual. Faith in God. Faith in God become man. Faith in God become man killed. Faith in God become man killed for you. Faith in God become man killed for you yet risen. Faith in God become man killed for you yet risen FOREVER!

Jesus was a man on fire. For you. For me. His life for ours. I hope you can know and embrace that horrific, yet glorious, truth. He is our ransom . . . He walked the bridge for us. And He lives to embrace all who will embrace Him.

Love,
Joelene