John 12:24-25
“Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.”
You may have heard the story of a young girl with a rare blood type who was dying of kidney failure. After checking with various family members. ONLY HER BROTHER WAS A MATCH to donate one of his kidneys that would allow his sister to live.
The doctors asked him if he was willing to donate his kidney and he bravely replied that he was. As the day for the transplant surgery drew near, the boy became quieter and more introspective. He would enter the operating room first so the doctors could remove one of his kidneys before transplanting it into his sister.
As the young boy lay on the operating table, the doctor asked him if he was ready. He said that he was but he had one question: “Doctor, how long before I die?”
This brave little brother had not understood that he had two kidneys and that both he and his sister would be able to live normal lives after the transplant surgery.
This poignant story is especially meaningful to me since our granddaughter Jenna donated one of her kidneys to save the life of our youngest daughter, her aunt Lori. (Some of you may recall that Jenna’s mother was our daughter Brenda, who died when she was only 35.)
Jesus came into the world to die!
He did not come to save His life, but to offer it as a sacrifice that all who will may receive eternal life.
JESUS OFFERS US THE ULTIMATE TRANSPLANT.
Our old sin-sick heart replaced by a new heart and a new life. What a wonderful gift!
New life in Christ, abundant and free! RECEIVE IT!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
