Costly Love

This content is drawn from: Romans 5:12-21

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

One of the more fascinating creatures that I kept on display while I was “Nature Nate” at camp was a moray eel. To swallow food, these eels use dual sets of independently articulating jaws instead of a tongue. Later I carried the meter-long eel in a net to the jetty to release him. Unfortunately, he had tied himself in knots in an attempt to escape, tangling his body in the net. Once I cut him free, he whipped around and sank all his teeth into my thumb, down to the bone. Out of all the creatures that have bitten me, this was by far the most painful bite I have ever sustained!

When we experience difficult circumstances, we find it easy to blame God. Like the eel stuck in the net, we can lash out at God when He is actually using the situation to better our faith and mature us as Christians. He is always at work for our good and His glory.

After I received a second bite from the eel, I shook my thumb free and let it slip into the water. He swam to the nearest rock crevice, happy to be back in his home, leaving me to suffer hours of pain.

God’s Design: Eels smell blood in the water better than some sharks but are harmless to humans as they usually eat dead or dying animals.