“Marred Hands Settled the Issue” is a story told by Leslie B. Flynn that illustrates a truth about love for others. “An orphaned boy was living with his grandmother when their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to get upstairs to rescue the boy, perished in the flames. The boy’s cries for help were finally answered by a man who climbed an iron drain pipe and came back down with the boy hanging tightly to his neck. Several weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who would receive custody of the child. A farmer, a teacher, and the town’s wealthiest citizen all gave the reasons they felt they should be chosen to give the boy a home. But as they talked, the boy’s eyes remained focused on the floor. Then a stranger walked to the front and slowly took his hands from his pockets, revealing severe scars on them. As the crowd gasped, the boy cried out in recognition. This was the man who had saved his life. His hands had been burned when he climbed the hot pipe. With a leap the boy threw his arms around the man’s neck and held on for dear life. The other men silently walked away, leaving the boy and his rescuer alone. Those marred hands had settled the issue.” I think of the words written in *John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”* The price Jesus paid for our redemption was precious. When we think of the extreme suffering He endured to purchase our freedom from the penalty of sin and death, our hearts should overflow with sorrow but also with great love for Him. Jesus’ nail-scarred hands settled the issue and serve as physical proof of His great love for us as our rescuer. My prayer is that all who confess Jesus as Lord, trust in, rely on, and more importantly cling to Jesus for dear life, will live a life forsaking the ways of the world and all that it has to offer. My question to all who read these words are, “How tightly are you holding to the one who rescued you, are you holding on to Jesus for dear life or just staying close enough to escape the destiny of hell?” Jesus is the One who saved my life and I will spend my last breath telling those who will listen to the truth of His great love for me and for them as well. How about you? In Christ Love, douglas.

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me in financial support of the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com