The Subway Superman
Devotional Thought by Shawn Boonstra
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“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men.”—Philippians 2:5-7
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men.”—Philippians 2:5-7
They call him the “subway superman,” and that’s because when 50-year old construction worker Wesley Autrey saw someone fall onto the subway tracks in New York City, he leapt into action.
A young man who was waiting at the station had suffered an unexpected seizure and collapsed right in front of an oncoming train, putting him in exceptional danger. When Autrey saw what was happening, he jumped down on the tracks and held the convulsing young man close enough to the ground that the train passed over both of them, leaving only a few centimeters to spare. The brush with death was so close that Autrey’s hat was actually smeared with grease when he stood back up once the train had passed.
Now, I know that Autrey didn’t die, but the fact remains that he was willing to put everything on the line in order to save someone else. He was willing to risk it all. And in some small way, that’s a tiny picture of what Jesus was willing to do for you. The Bible says He gave it all away so that you could have it all. He saw your dangerous situation, with the thread of death hanging over your head, and he jumped down on the tracks beside you and covered you with his sacrifice at the cross.
Jesus made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men. He so completely identified with you that He was stained with the dirty smudge of your sins.
He literally laid down his life, and that says something about how we should face the day. The point of Paul’s discussion is this: We should have the same attitude for Jesus. Just try to imagine what would happen if everybody put someone else’s well-being ahead of their own!
This devotional was excerpted from “A Better Way to Live,” Pastor Boonstra’s daily devotional program. To get your daily spiritual boost, visit www.itiswritten.com/betterway.
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Coming Soon: My Place With Jesus
This July, It Is Written will launch an exciting, interactive Bible study website just for kids! Created and hosted by Jean Boonstra, My Place With Jesus will lead children into a deeper understanding of the Bible. If you’d like to be the among first to know when the website goes live, simply submit your e-mail address at www.MyPlaceWithJesus.com.
Special Father's Day Program to Air This Sunday
This Sunday (June 15), It Is Written will feature a special Father's Day program on its weekly telecast. In last month’s Mother's Day program, Pastor Shawn Boonstra interviewed his wife, Jean, about being a mom in today's busy world. In this show, the tables will be turned as Jean interviews Shawn about his role as a father. Learn about the importance of family worship, discipline, and the most significant role a father can play.
The program will be available for viewing on your local television station as well as on the It Is Written website. Beginning this Friday, visit the It Is Written website to read the script and download a free PDF of the Boonstras’ new book, First Aid Parenting.
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