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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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The Greatest Gift The young man knew that this might be the last Christmas that he would have at home with his father. He had just graduated from college earlier in the month and was engaged to be married. It would not be long before he would start his own family and begin his new job in another city. For a Christmas and graduation gift, the young man had high hopes that his wealthy father would buy a beautiful sports car for him that he had been admiring for several months in a dealer’s showroom. The young man made it clear to his father that the car was ALL that he ever wanted. On Christmas morning... the father called his son into his study. He told him how proud he was to have such a fine son and told him how much he loved him. Then he handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, the young man raised his voice at his father and said, “With ALL your money, you give me a Bible?!?” Then he stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible, intending never to return. Many years passed... and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family. But, he had never returned to see his father since that Christmas day, and he began to regret it. Before the son could make arrangements to go and see his father, he received a telegram informing him that his father had passed away. In his will, his father had left everything to his son. When the son arrived at his father’s house to take care of matters, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to look for his father’s important papers, when his eye caught that Bible that his father had given to him so long ago. With tears in his eyes, he picked up the Bible and began to leaf through the still NEW pages, when a key fell out of an envelope that had been taped inside the back cover of the Bible. The envelope contained the return address of the same dealer who had the sports car that he had desired. Also written on the envelope were the words … PAID IN FULL! IF ONLY... the son had accepted his father’s gift, he would have discovered the great love of his father, there expressed, within the covers of the book. IF
ONLY... the son would READ the Bible, he would
discover the far greater love of a Heavenly Father,
expressed by the greatest
gift that has EVER been given - the gift of
God’s Son (John 3:16). God gave this Gift to solve the greatest problem that man has: SIN. On the cross, the Son of God gave His life as payment in full for the debt of man’s sin. This Gift that brings salvation from sin has been made available to all (Titus 2:11). This Gift must be ACCEPTED through faith (Acts 16:31), repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confession of Christ (Romans 10:9-10), baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), AND continued faithful obedience to the Giver of the Gift (1 John 1:7). Have YOU read about the greatest Gift in the Bible? Won’t you ACCEPT this Gift on His terms? “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).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 |