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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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The First Step Two unmarried sisters had so bitter a ruckus
that they stopped speaking to each other.
Unable or unwilling to leave their small home,
they continued to use the same rooms and sleep in the
same bedroom. A
chalk line divided the sleeping area into two halves,
separating doorway and fireplace, so that each could
come and go and get her own meals without trespassing
on her sister's domain.
In the black of night each could hear the
breathing of the other.
For years they coexisted in grinding silence.
Neither was willing to take "the
first step" to reconciliation. How sad! What
could have been a fulfilling relationship became a
terrible burden because neither would take the
initiative in restoring the severed relationship. Due to our sin, you and I are separated from
God. Our
relationship with God has been severed by SIN.
"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to
save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from
your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so
that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2). When it comes to OUR broken relationship with
God due to our sin, God took the initiative to
reconcile US to Himself. Although you and I are the offenders, the Offended One made
the first move to heal the broken relationship.
"God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
… For if, when we were God's enemies, we were
reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how
much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved
through his life!" (Romans 5:8, 10).
God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins
so that we can be forgiven through Him.
When we accept God’s offer of forgiveness,
He accepts us!
We become His children, related to Him by BLOOD – the cleansing
blood of Christ that washed away our sins – the
cause of our separation. God took the initiative in mending our broken
relationship due to sin, but you and I must respond to
His love. The
appropriate response to God’s love through Christ is
to place our faith
in Him (Hebrews 11:6), repent
of our sins (2
Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) so that our sins can be
washed away (Acts 22:16).
Then, as we walk in the light of His Word, the
blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from all sin (1
John 1:7). Due to our SIN, we are separated from our loving
Creator. But
Love took the initiative.
"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 4:10). God has taken "the first step" . . . . How will YOU respond? God bless you!
David A. Sargent,
Minister 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.churchsearch.org Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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