Dear Rangers,
Here is a devotion I have just wrote. I hope you enjoy and can use it.
The Princess and the Arrow.
Many years ago there was a tribe who lived on an island. Their culture had not
changed for hundreds of years. They were a civilised people who did not believe in
war, but had strict laws on fighting. Each side took turns at selecting who would be
the target and if they missed then they lost the war.
They lived peacefully for many years until a strange ship drop anchor in their
harbour. These men had white skin, not brown like theirs. They spoke in a strange
voice and had strange customs. These strange men made a camp on the beach, but
did not venture inland to the tribe. One day one of these men ventured away from
the camp and into a special area. The tribe was very upset and declared war on
these strange men.
The Captain�s son had been going into the forest near the tribe�s camp. He had
sent hours watching them and learning their language and customs. He knew that
the tribe would be all killed in the coming war because of the way their fought. He
told his father about their custom and persuaded him to fight according to their
custom. His father knew that his son planning something to save the tribe from
being killed but went ahead with the war.
The next day the two sides met on the beach, both armed with bow and arrows.
The Chief beckoned the captain to fire to select his first victim. He selected the
Chief�s only daughter. Just as he was about to fire his son stepped forward and
said, �I�ll take her place�. The captain known that he had shoot his son. He drew
back the bow and fired. The arrow pieced his son�s heart, killing him. The chief
saw the sacrifice of the son and laid down his bow, thus ending the war. The
captain went over to his son�s body and removed the arrow and handed it to the
Princess. He said �My son gave up his life so that you might live, take this arrow as
a reminder of this day.�
The captain then told the chief that he would leave his First Officer with them to
teach them the way they should live. The captain then said �I am going now, but I
will come back for you soon and take to a better place.� �You now must listen to
what you are told and live the way I have set forth for you.� With that the captain
departed.
In John 3:16 we read that �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.� Jesus
willing laid down his life for us. He rose again three days later. The deserved to die
because of our sin, but Jesus stood in out place instead. He willing gave up His
home in Heaven to take on the form a man and live on earth. He was willing to die
for us on the cross. His father knew that this must be done so that God and man
could be at peace with each other.
Before Jesus went up to heaven he said �On one occasion, while he was eating
with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the
gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised
with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:4-
5). And in John 14:26 �But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have
said to you.� Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit to be our guide and Counsellor. He
has kept His word.
2000 years ago Jesus said in John 14:1-7 �14:1 "Do not let your hearts be
troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it
were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am
going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how
can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would
know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Jesus has promised us a place in Heaven. Think of it this way; God took seven
days to create this world and all that is in it. Jesus said that he was going to
prepare
a place for us and He�s been at it for 2000 years. So this must be a garbage dump
compared to what He has in store for us.
The Holy Spirit is the �arrow� that God has left us as a reminder to what He has
done for us. Do you have yours? Do you know how to use it? In Acts 1:8 we read
�But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth." Do you have the power? Is it active in your life?
There's a storm coming, our Storm.
PROCLAIMING GOD'S LOVE TO A DYING WORLD
Say to the captives, 'come out,' and those in darkness, 'Be free!'
Isaiah 49:9
Love in Jesus
Adrian Bonham aka Morning Light, The Larrikin
I looked to the heavens to where God dwells
I looked into my life to see he lives there as well.
Outpost 49
Hawkesbury Royal Rangers
Windsor, N.S.W.
Australia
F.C.F. 94
http://www.summit.net.au/~founder1/
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