Every Hair of My Head

In the year 1741, an Irishman named Connell was sentenced to death at Northampton . A minister by the name of Philip Doddridge sought to help Connell because he believed that he was not guilty of the crime of which he had been convicted.  At great trouble and expense, Dr. Doddridge instituted a rigid scrutiny into the case, and proved, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that Connell was a hundred and twenty miles away when the crime was committed. The course of judgment could not, however, be reversed.

Connell was asked if he had any request to make before setting out for the gallows. 
He answered that he desired the procession to pause in front of the house of Dr. Philip Doddridge, that he might kneel on the minister's doorstep and express his gratitude to the man who had TRIED to save him.

"Dr. Doddridge," he cried, when the procession halted, "every hair of my head 
thanks you; every throb of my heart thanks you; every drop of my blood thanks you!  You did your BEST to save me.... but you could not!" *

Like Connell, YOU and I have been sentenced to DEATH due to our SIN 
(Romans 6:23).  Unlike Connell, we ARE indeed guilty! (Romans 3:23).  Yet, Jesus, 
at great trouble and expense, paid the price for our sins with His own life: "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10).  He paid the price, NOT because we are innocent, but so that we can be forgiven and have life (Romans 6:23).

We must ACCEPT His offer in order to receive the blessings.  To accept His offer of salvation, we believe in Him (Acts 16:31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  THEN, as 
we walk in the light of His Word, the blood that He shed on our behalf will continue 
to cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7).

Having accepted His offer on His terms, we will want to express our gratitude -- 
in WORD and in LIFE – much like Connell did to Dr. Doddridge.  

WE say to Jesus, 

"Every hair of my head thanks you; every throb of my heart thanks you; every drop of my blood thanks you! You SAVED me from my sins!"

God bless you.

David A. Sargent / Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

* Adapted from F. W. Boreham

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