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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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Thomas Costain’s history, The Three Edwards, described the life of Raynald III, a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means, “FAT.” After a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight! But
Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a
variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way
out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward
was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner..... He may leave when he so wills.” Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year … a prisoner of his own appetite. * Scripture reveals the origin of SIN: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires [or appetites] and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). Many times, WE are our own worst enemy. We become imprisoned by our own selfish desires and, unless we are rescued, our sin will lead to our own destruction. Paul exclaimed, “O wretched man that I am! WHO will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). Then Paul gave THE answer: “I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). ONLY JESUS... can deliver us from the power of sin and death! Jesus WON the ultimate victory over sin and death..... when He died on the cross as payment for sin (Ephesians 1:7) and broke the bonds of death through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). WE can share in His victory through our submission to His will: believing in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then, if we will continue to walk in the light of His Word, we, too, will be victorious. WE
are self-imprisoned by sin and on the verge of
destruction. Only
Jesus can set us free.
And He will, IF we will TRUST
and OBEY Him. Won’t YOU? -- David A. Sargent, Minister Church
of Christ at Creekwood * Dave Wilkenson, quoted in Not Even a Hint by Josh Harris To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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