"I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven
them." - Mark 3:28
The novelist, A. J. Cronin, tells a story from his own experience as a doctor
that catches the wonder of the gift of grace. Cronin was a friend of the Adams
family who lived in the Connecticut suburbs. At the close of the Second World
War, Mr. and Mrs. Adams decided to open their home to a little refugee boy from
Italy with the outlandish name of Paul Piotrostanalsi.
The Adams had two daughters and a six-year old son named Sammy. Sammy and Paul
became inseparable friends, but little Paul was a difficult child, and often
disobeyed Mr. and Mrs. Adams. One day, little Paul went swimming in some
contaminated water. He became very ill with a high fever, and the doctor
suggested he sleep in an attic bedroom. But little Sammy missed his friend Paul
so much that one night he crept up the attic stairs and into bed with Paul.
Paul's contagious breath fell on Sammy's neck all night.
In the morning, Sammy, never a strong child, became deathly ill. Paul recovered
his health, but Sammy died within three days. It was a terrible tragedy for the
Adams family.
A year later Dr. Cronin decided to pay a call on the Adams family. But as he
pulled into their driveway, he was amazed and then angry as he saw Paul, the
refugee boy, working in the garden with Mr. Adams. He got out of his car and
angrily approached Mr. Adams.
"What's this Paul Pio........whatever his name is, doing here after what he did
to your family?"
Mr. Adams looked at the doctor and then said quietly, "Dr. Cronin, you won't
have any more trouble with Paul's name. You see, he's Paul Adams now. We've
adopted him."
God has more than forgiven us, He as adopted us. Today in prayer, thank the Lord
that His forgiveness is greater than any sin in our life.
"There is more grace in God's heart than there is sin in your past." - Erwin
Lutzer\
God's Word: "Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw
their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, son; your sins are
forgiven.'" - Matthew 9:2
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN MARK
pkennedy6@yahoo.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.