Galatians 2:20  ‘The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.’

• DAILY READING – Hebrews 12; Exodus 16:1-17:16; Proverbs 7:6-27

The O’Hare international Airport in Chicago has an interesting history behind it. It is named in tribute to the courage of an ace pilot named Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare. He was a fighter pilot who on February 20, 1942, during World War 2, all alone heroically faced 9 Japanese planes and was able to down 5 of them.. Though O’Hare was greatly outnumbered, he heroically fought these 9 bombers alone, before other American Planes arrived to assist. His timely action stopped the Japanese planes from destroying a carrier ship called the Lexington. For that action Butch became the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.

However, Butch was only able to receive that honour because years before, his father paid a costly prize to give him a good family name. Formerly their family name had been dishonorable because of his father’s involvement with organised crime. Butch’s father nicknamed ‘Easy Eddie’ had been the lawyer and ally of the famous gangster Al Capone who had run a lot of illegal business in Chigaco. But despite his involvement with crime, ‘Easy Eddie’ loved his family, especially his son, Butch. Knowing that he couldn’t give his son a good name, while involved in crime, he made the painful decision to give it all up. To rectify wrongs he had done, he confessed to the authorities his dealings with Al Capone. Knowing the danger to his life, he provided the government the crucial evidence that helped to convict and imprison Al Capone for income tax evasion. In retaliation, Al Capone’s men later murdered ‘Easy Eddie’. But what he did had cleaned up his family’s name, separating it from crime. His action provided his son Butch with a better future that positioned him for the heroic actions that eventually led to the naming of the Chicago airport after their family name. At the O’Hare International airport are Butch’s memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor.

Easy Eddie was willing to risk his life to give his son a better future. It is indeed amazing how sacrificial a father’s love could be. And yet Jesus said that if earthly fathers Know how to give good gifts to their sons, then our Heavenly father is able to do far  much more. As great as the love of a human father, it is nothing compared to the love of our Heavenly father. God doesn’t just show love, He is love. Love is not what He does, it is who He is. It is the amazing love of God for us that made Him to send Jesus as a substitute to die in our place. The scripture talks about the great love wherewith God loved us. It wasn’t a little love. In Ephesians 3 Paul describes this deep love of God for us as surpassing knowledge. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us.  In other words, we brought nothing to the table. We were without hope. We were spiritually bankrupt. We did not have a leg to stand on. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to shed His blood to set us free from every bondage of sin. And it is because of God’s great love that we can have the victory today. Every benefit and blessing we have in our redemption, is based on Jesus and his triumph at the cross.

Knowing that God loves us so much, how do we then respond to this great love? Galatians 2:20, says ‘The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.’

We must respond to Christ’s love, by living a life of faith and power. We must take up the spiritual responsibility to live the abundant and supernatural life He died to obtain for us. Through His blood, we have been empowered to live in health, wealth, power and glory. Indeed, when we live a life of victory and dominion on earth, God is glorified.

PRAYER: Lord, Thank You for the power you have made available for me through the blood of Jesus. Indeed by the power in the blood, I have the victory in every battle of life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained  victorious end for you.