The Lord is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalms 28:8-9) (NIV)
A father dug a well with his children and taught them an important lesson.
“Let’s play a game. See if you can find a way out of this hole. I’ll stand outside the pit and you must get up to where I am. The only rule is that you can’t touch the ladder.”
The children debated the problem. The oldest sibling suggested they stand on each other’s shoulders. This enterprise failed and they tumbled to the bottom of the hole. Next, the middle child said they should leap as high as possible and grab the edge of the hole. This didn’t work because no one could jump high enough.
“I have an idea,” the youngest said. “Daddy please get in the hole.” The father complied and climbed down the ladder. “Bend down, Daddy.” The father did so, and the girl climbed onto her father’s back. “Now, go up the ladder.” As the father carried the little one out of the hole, her smile grew into a squeal. “There, I’m up where you are and I didn't touch the ladder.”
Everybody laughed and clapped.
“You see children, we were in a hole we dug by our own sin, a little deeper with every mistake. No amount of standing on the shoulders of the religious people who went before us, or jumping on the legs of self-effort could get us out. The only way out of our sin was for Jesus to come into our hole, bend down so any child might climb on, and carry us back to our heavenly Father.
“That’s why Jesus came to earth.”
Prayer: Humble Savior, thank you for lowering yourself to carry me.