But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA was actually T. E. Lawrence, an English officer who became famous for his exploits. Riding across the desert with some Arabs in 1915, their situation was desperate. Their food was almost gone and they were low on water.

Suddenly someone said, “Where is Jasmin?”

Another said, “Who is Jasmin?”

A third answered, “He is that yellow-faced man. He killed a Turkish tax collector and fled to the desert.”

Someone observed the missing man’s camel. His rifle was strapped to the saddle, but Jasmin was not there. It was agreed he had probably fallen off his camel in the heat. “What does it matter?” someone asked. “Jasmin was not worth ten pence.”

While the Arabs hunched themselves up on their camels and rode on, Lawrence turned and rode back the way they had come. An hour and a half later, he saw Jasmin in the sand, half dead. Lawrence lifted him up onto his own camel, gave him some of the last drops of precious water, and plodded back to his company.

When they arrived, the Arabs looked in amazement. “Here is Jasmin,” they said, “not worth ten pence, but saved at his own risk by Lawrence.”

This true story is an illustration of the fact that Jesus not only risked His life, but also actually died—not for righteous men but for sinners, including you and me.

Give thanks to God that Jesus gave His life for you.

Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife, Carol. They have been married for fifty-one years and have two sons and nine grandchildren.