The Compassion of a Stranger
READ: John 15:9-17
Danny was a stubborn, obnoxious little boy. He always ran away from everywhere. Whenever he was somewhere he didn’t like, he’d run away and hide. He liked to play his little games all the time. Then he played one game that he wouldn’t forget.
You see, Danny was about 7, and he didn’t like the dentist at all. He feared for it like you wouldn’t believe. Then, when he had his next dentist appointment, he was scared to death. So, he thought that he’d try and be funny and run out of the building. In fact, he ran right into the middle of a very busy street. Then a man by the bus stop saw what was unfolding. A car approached Danny at over 45 miles per hour. Danny didn’t see the car. The car didn’t see Danny. Then, the man from the bus stop ran and tackled Danny out of the way, nearly killing himself to save Danny’s life.
The heavenly meaning of this earthly story is as follows. The man at the bus stop was such a good person and had so much love, that without even knowing Danny, he risked his life to save him. Christ, with all His love, did the same thing for the entire world, even though He already knew how stubborn and obnoxious we can be.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: How does the passage show Christ’s love for us? What does he command us to do to each other? Can you think of a “Danny” that you need to rescue?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Thank God for getting “hit by the car” instead of you. Ask God for the courage to do what is necessary in word or action to save “Danny’s” in life around us.