JESUS SPEAKING

     “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

     God is a loving Father who cares deeply for every human being. His love is so profound that He sent His only Son to suffer the punishment for our sins; that we might receive the gift of eternal life. Because Jesus Christ was whipped, beaten, mocked, and crucified, the world has seen the love of God. His pierced hands and feet are a reminder of the astonishing measure of His affections.

     As the story goes, many years ago a man named William Dixon lived in Brackenwaite, England. He was a widower whose only son had tragically died. Near him there lived a grandmother who was raising her orphaned grandson. One day their house caught on fire; although the elderly grandmother was rescued, her grandson was trapped in the blaze. Dixon climbed an iron pipe on the side of the house and lowered the boy to safety. The hand he used to hold onto the pipe was badly burned. Shortly after the fire, the grandmother died. The townspeople wondered who would care for the boy. Two volunteers appeared before the town council. One was a father who had lost his son and wanted to adopt the orphan. The other man was William Dixon. When given the opportunity to speak, Mr. Dixon said nothing. Instead, he simply raised his scarred hand in the air for everyone to see. The vote was taken, and the boy was given to Mr. Dixon.

     Like Mr. Dixon, Jesus Christ endured great pain and suffering to save us from certain death. His scarred hands and feet are reminders of that immense love. Who better to call our master and our Lord than the one who sacrificed His life so that we could live? Having received salvation, we are now compelled to lay down our lives for others. Abandoning selfish pursuits, we are called to exemplify the attributes of selflessness and sacrifice. Through our actions, the entire world can observe the depths of God’s love.

     “Lord Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your immeasurable affection. We praise You Jesus for the pain that You endured on the cross for us. May our hearts be filled with gratitude. May we follow Your example and lay down our lives in service to our fellows. Give us the strength to love others as You have so graciously loved us. We honor You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!