You may remember we had a dog named Bandy. He was a Springer Spaniel with a big personality and a heart to match. He was also quite a character! Back then we had chickens and the chicken coop was in our backyard. On this particular day one of the chickens got out and Bandy just happened to be in the backyard. I'm sure at the time he felt it was the best place to be. Now you aren't going to believe this, but it really did happen just this way! Chickens aren't like a lot of other birds, flying is not their best thing. And, I have to say that this day flying was definitely not this chicken's best choice either.
Picture this, the chicken took off flying a few feet off the ground and headed right for Bandy. Bandy was just sitting there and when he saw that chicken coming towards him his eyes just lit up- kind of like a little child's eyes in a candy or toy store. You could tell Bandy liked what he was seeing. He just sat there and "then" he opened his mouth and that chicken- I kid you not- flew right into his mouth! He was beside himself- he must have felt like the luckiest dog in the world! He probably thought he had been given a very special free gift. A gift beyond his wildest dreams. As you will soon see this feeling didn't last very long. We stood there not believing what we had just witnessed and thinking doesn't this kind of thing only happen in the movies? If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I don't know if I would have believed it! Realizing we had to act fast, we ran over and took the chicken out of Bandy's mouth-happy chicken, not so happy dog. Wonder if the chicken ever realized what he was saved from? I think Bandy realized what he lost out on. When I think back on this, it still amazes me that it actually happened.
There are things that may happen in our every day lives that we can hardly believe. Some things we may wish hadn't happened. There is one thing I am glad that happened. To realize that kind of love exists is the greatest thing I know. That's when Jesus came here to earth and gave His life for us and God giving His Son to do it. For you and for me! John 3:16 & 17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."
He came to save us. I am so thankful for that! And, unlike Bandy, we can keep our free gift. God offers us eternal life and it is a free gift- it is already ours, all we have to do is go to Him and tell Him we want it. What a sacrifice! What an amazing love!
He will forgive and wipe away any and all of our past mistakes all we have to do is ask- think about it. (God is gracious, ready to forgive Nehemiah 9:17) "As far as the east is form the west, so far He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12. I don't know about you, but I have plenty of them and I am very thankful that He washes them all away. (1 John 1:9) You are new - you have a fresh new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." There is no greater gift!
As you go through your day today think about the Gift God has given us and how much you are loved!
