Astonishing Deeds

But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? (Hebrews 2:6 NAS)

According to news at MSNBC.com, a former Marine in 2009 made five death-defying forays into a killing zone in Afgahnistan's Ganjgal Valley to save three dozen American and Afghan troops. During the six hours of ferocious fighting after an ambush by insurgents on September 8, 2009, Dakota Meyer saved 13 Marines and Army soldiers, and 23 Afghan soldiers, killed at least eight insurgents and carried from the battle zone the bodies of four fallen comrades—despite being wounded himself.

Meyer and the other Americans had gone to the valley to train Afghan military members. They wanted to talk to these village elders, and try to convince them to support the government".

"The village was known to be bad. We went in there; they left me back at the trucks," Meyer said of his four comrades.

Suddenly, the lights in the village went dark, and gunfire erupted. About 50 Taliban insurgents perched on mountainsides and taking cover in the village ambushed the patrol.

"There was so much gunfire it sounded like static going over you," he said. "I didn't think I was going to die, I knew I was. I was just going to keep fighting until they got me. I wasn't going to sit there and lay down and let them win. The only thing on my mind was how to get those guys out."

In September 2011, Dakota Meyer was bestowed the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama at the White House.

We often read and hear astonishing stories of people who willingly sacrificed and risked their lives to save others. Yet, there is another story far greater and more amazing than all these, recorded in the Bible.

The psalmist wrote, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). The heavens tell of the glory of God, and the skies declare His handiwork (Psalm 19:1).

Men may have been made a little lower than God, yet God has crowned men with glory and majesty, and appointed them over the works of His hands (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:6-7). Our Lord although He existed in the form of God, yet He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7).

Is it not astonishing that despite our imperfection, God willingly sent His Son to die for us that we may be saved? Who are we to deserve such loving care?

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

–John Newton

Let us be grateful therefore and thank God for His salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Thank You, dear Lord, for willingly coming down to earth to die on the cross in order to save us. We are amazed and astonished O Lord that You should save a wretch such as us. Who are we O God that You show us so much love? We glorify and honor You O Lord our God, because You deserve all praise and worship.