Thursday, August 20, 1998
Thursday, August 20, 1998
And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior
of the world. (1 John 4:14
NRSV)
I remember a story of a lady who went to a local pet shop. She browsed
around for a while and saw a beautiful parrot. She told the owner of the store
that she just had to have the parrot. The owner said, "Oh, I can't let you have
that parrot." The lady insisted. The owner said, "I'm sorry I can't let you have
that parrot. It lets out the worst profanity you could ever image." The lady
said, "That's OK. I will train it." The owner finally gave in and sold the
parrot.
The lady, with great excitement, takes her new parrot home. She gets the
parrot's cage all set up and puts the parrot in the cage. After the parrot
checks out its new home, it lets out the worst profanity that you could ever
imagine. The lady says, "I'm going to teach you an important lesson." She
then takes the parrot out of the cage and puts it into the freezer for a few
minutes.
After she takes the parrot out of the freezer, the parrot rubbing its wings
says, "I have just one question for you. What did the turkey in there say?"
The turkey in the freezer was no doubt frozen, but we don't have to be
frozen in the past. It does not matter what we have done in the past or what
mistakes we have made. With Jesus Christ as the king of our lives, we are
forgiven and brought into the loving presence of God. That is the best image
we can have of Jesus Christ. Now, let's share that image of Christ with
others. Like others have done for us.
Prayer: Dear God, thaw out my hard heart that I may truly live with Jesus as my king.
Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA