8%
One day a while back, a man, his
heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought
about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought
about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.
His thoughts
turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He
remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the
illness he had, that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with
anger, resentment, and frustration.
Standing there
this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had
failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew
would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:
'Lord, You have
done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many
things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to
forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot, I don't know how. It is
not fair Lord, I didn’t deserve these wrongs that were done against me
and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as Your way is Lord,
this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My
anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach
me to do the one thing I cannot do: Teach me to forgive.'
As he knelt there
in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his
shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he
saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it
was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood
in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood
with a large spike through them.
He raised his
head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He
saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body,
deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain
on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to
sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
'Have you ever
told a lie?' He asked?
The man answered
- 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever
been given too much change and kept it?'
The man answered
- 'Yes. Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more.
'Have you ever
taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesus asked?
And the man answered,
'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever
sworn, using my Father's name in vain?'
The man, crying
now, answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
As Jesus asked
many more times, ’Have you ever'? The man's crying became
uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'Yes, Lord'.
Then Jesus turned
His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his
other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he
looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of
love the man had never seen or known before.
Jesus said, 'I
didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.'
It may be hard to
see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in
life, you realize how true this statement is.
Read the
following first line slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
When Jesus died
on the cross, he was thinking of you! If you are one of the 8% who
will stand up for Him, forward this with the Title 8%
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