The Power of Love
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only
Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.1
Years ago, R. G. Lee told a powerful story about a school that had a hard time
keeping a teacher. It seems there was a group of big, rough boys who took pride
in running the teacher off. The biggest and roughest of them all was named Tom.
A new young teacher won over the boys, however, by letting them write the rules
for the schoolâ€"which were very strictly enforced with a rod. For example,
cheating would be punished with five strokes of the rod, and stealing with ten
strokes, both to be given with the offender's coat off.
Everything went well until one day Tom's lunch was stolen. A frail little boy
in hand-me-down clothes that were too big for him admitted his guilt. The
school rules demanded that he be whipped. When the teacher called the little
fellow up front, he came whimpering and begging to leave his coat on. The
students insisted he obey the rules and take off his coat. When he did, a
deathly silence settled over the room, for he had no shirt on and his emaciated
body looked like skin stretched over bones. The teacher gasped and dropped the
rod. He knew he could never whip that little boy. Suddenly, big Tom stood
between the two. "I'll take it for him, Teacher. After all, it was my
lunch he stole." He shrugged out of his coat.
At the third blow, the rod broke and the teacher threw it in the corner and
said, "That's all, school dismissed." The frail little boy laid
his hand on big Tom's arm and through his tears said, "Thank you, Tom,
it would have killed me."2
That's exactly what Jesus did for you and me when He died on the cross. He
took our punishment for all our sins so we could be freely forgiven and given
God's gift of eternal life.
Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins and, if so,
have you accepted God's gift?
Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the sins that I
have committed. I believe that Your Son, Jesus, died on the cross to pay the
penalty for all my sins. Please forgive me. I invite You, Jesus, to come into
my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I commit my life and way to You. Please
give me the desire to be what You want me to be, and to do what You want me to
do. Thank You for your unconditional love and gift of eternal life. In Jesus’
name, amen.
1. John 3:16 (NIV).
2. Cited on http://www.sermons.com/
Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.
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