Daily Reflections, Saturday, July 19, 2008

Today's Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

When faced with the grim choice of losing either his leg or his life, Bill Jeracki chose to amputate his own leg. When he was out fishing alone in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, he was trapped when a boulder fell on his leg, and he was unable to free himself. Knowing that as night came, he might die of exposure, Bill did what he knew he had to do. Relying on his skill as an assistant to a doctor at a Denver hospital, he took a nylon rope out of his tackle box, tied it tightly above his knee, and cut off his leg with his knife. He then dragged himself to his car and drove ten miles to the nearest town. He not only survived the trauma, but with an artificial limb he is out fishing again.

Something similar happened about eight months ago when a hiker had a boulder fall on his arm, pinning him to the ground. After a day or two, the hiker knew no one would find him so he cut off his forearm and walked to safety.

These are heroic feats, deeds I pray I would never have to do. Yet, we see an underlying principle of what hardship does to the human spirit. As believers, we should have a similar perspective. We should care more for our Lord than we care for our lives. Until we as believers understand this we will never experience true spiritual victory.

Today's Quote: Patience is a bitter plant but it has a sweet fruit.—German Proverb