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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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Those
Hands An orphaned boy was living with his grandmother when their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to get upstairs to rescue the boy, perished in the flames. The boy’s cries for help were finally answered by a man who climbed an iron drainpipe and came back down with the boy hanging tightly to his neck. Several weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who would receive custody of the child. A farmer, a teacher, and the town’s wealthiest citizen all gave the reasons they felt they should be chosen to give the boy a home. But as they talked, the lad’s eyes remained focused on the floor. Then a stranger walked to the front and slowly took his hands from his pockets, revealing severe scars on them. As the crowd gasped, the boy cried out in recognition. This was the man who had saved his life. His hands had been burned when he climbed the hot pipe. With a leap, the boy threw his arms around the man’s neck and held on for dear life. The other men silently walked away, leaving the boy and his rescuer alone. Those marred hands had settled the issue! * Sin leaves each of us in desperate and deadly circumstances. But Jesus has come to our rescue. In order to rescue us, Jesus had to die on the cross as payment for our sins. He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness” (Titus 2:14). He will redeem THOSE who cling to Him in trusting obedience: believing Him (Acts 16:30-31), repenting of sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), being baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), and living faithfully to Him to the end (1 John 1:7). After Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared to His disciples.... Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, was not with them when Jesus came. When the other disciples told him of Jesus’ visit, Thomas said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). Eight
days later, Jesus came to see His disciples again - this
time Thomas was with them....
Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger
here; see My hands; and reach your hand here, and put
it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but
believing" (John 20:27).
When Thomas saw those nail-pierced hands, he
said to Jesus, Those nail-pierced hands settle the issue! To Him belongs our love and devotion. Will you cling to Him through your trusting obedience? David A. Sargent, Minister Church of Christ at Creekwood * Leslie B. Flynn 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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