1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness
springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated
by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached
among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in
glory.
It was a quiet Saturday morning on March 5, 1994 at the
Salt Lake City Library as eighty people quietly watched a Tibetan sand-painting
ceremony. Then suddenly, a bearded man carrying a handgun and a bomb leapt onto
a table.
"Don't anybody leave! Don't anyone go anywhere! I've
got a bomb!" he shouted, waiving his .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Stunned and confused, people began screaming.
The gunman, Clifford Draper, then began clearing the
room. Hearing the commotion in the library room next door was Lt. Lloyd Prescott,
who was teaching a class for police officers. As he stepped into the hallway he
noticed a gunman herding 18 hostages into a room. With a flash of insight,
Prescott, who was dressed in street clothes, joined the group as the nineteenth
hostage.
There was a five-hour standoff. Then the gunman began
making preparations to execute one of the hostages.
At this, Prescott sprang to his feet, identified himself
and shouted, "Everybody hit the floor!" The plainclothes officer then
fired five shots at the gunman and subdued him.
One of the hostages was Michael Greer, who said"
"I do believe Lloyd Prescott is a hero. Part of being a hero was his
absolute humanity."
God dressed himself in street clothes of this world and
joined us who are being held hostage to sin. On the cross, Jesus Christ
defeated Satan and freed us from the power of sin. Are you grateful for
Christ's becoming a man and dying for your sins? Today in prayer, praise Christ
for His selfless, heroic act and freeing us from sin's power.
"Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail, the
incarnate Deity, Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel!" -
Charles Wesley
Dear Lord, we thank You for coming to Earth dressed in
street clothes and dying for our sins so that we may have eternal life. In
Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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