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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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A.C. Dixon once told of an incident that took place in Brooklyn, NY. A detective who had been looking for a local citizen finally tracked him down in a drugstore. As the man began to make his purchase, the officer laid his hand on the citizen's shoulder and said, "You're under arrest; come with me!" Stunned, the man demanded, "What did I do?" The detective calmly replied, "You know what you did. You escaped from the Albany penitentiary several years ago. You went west, got married, and then came back here to live. We've been watching for you since you returned." Quietly the man admitted, "That's true, but I was sure you'd never find me. Before you take me in, could we stop by my house so I can talk to my family?" The officer agreed. When they got to his home, the man looked at his wife and asked, "Haven't I been a kind husband and a good father? Haven't I worked hard to make a living?" His wife answered, "Of course you have, but why are you asking me these questions?" Her husband then proceeded to explain what had happened and that he was now under arrest. He apparently had hoped that his record as an exemplary husband and father would impress the officer. Even so, he was still an escaped criminal. Though he was "right" with his family, he was all “wrong” with the state of New York. Because of our sins, YOU and I are “in the wrong” with God. “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). All of the good deeds in the world will not “make up” for our mistakes. It’s not that God doesn’t acknowledge or appreciate good works; He wants us to do good (Ephesians 2:10). But the truth is... there is only One remedy for sin: the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Jesus, and only Jesus, was the perfect sacrifice – sinless and perfectly suited – for the sins of the world (see Hebrews 9:11-14). Only through Him can we find forgiveness for our sins (Ephesians 1:7). God will forgive those who... believe in Him and His Son (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). When we submit to Him on His terms, we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). And, as long as we strive to “walk in the light as He is in the light,” He will continue to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7). We can be doing a lot of things “right” – doing good to all men – and still be “wrong” in the sight of God. Why not make things “right” with God by submitting YOUR life to Christ, and then continue to DO what’s right and good in His sight? -- David A. Sargent, Minister Church
of Christ at Creekwood 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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