

                         He Gave the Very Best

      A magazine article  recently  described  the  shopping spree  of  a
extremely rich man buying gifts for his family.  Among the things he  bought
were  nineteen  Cadillacs,  for which  he  paid  extra  to  have  them
lengthened.  Then he purchased two Porsches and six Mercedes, a $40,000
speedboat and a truck to haul it in, sixteen refrigerators and a stack
of  luggage.  For  good  measure  he   added   two   Florida grapefruit
trees,  two reclining chairs and a slot machine.  The total bill was
$1,500,000 -- plus $194,000  to  have  it all delivered.

     There are only a few people in the world  as  rich,  or richer,  than
that  man.  When  they  give  gifts, they can afford to give the best.

     But all their possessions combined are nothing compared to the vast
wealth owned by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus  is  the Creator of the

     Universe.  He said a word and  galaxies  were  born.  "For  by  Him
were  all  things created,  that  are  in  Heaven, and that are in
earth...all things were created by Him, and for Him" (Colossians 1:16) Christ
     is rich in power and position for He said, "All authority is given unto
Me in Heaven and in  earth."(Matthew 28:18)  He  knows  that  true  riches --
love, joy, peace --cannot be purchased with a credit card or  check.  God
knew that no amount of material wealth could raise man out of his spiritual
poverty.  So almost 2,000 years ago  He  gave  the best gift.  God sent His
Son to be our Savior.

     "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that, though  He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be
rich." (Corinthians 8:9)

     "He  became  poor."  While  Jesus  was on earth, He was poor in
possessions for He had no real home.  Even the  tomb in which His followers
laid His body was borrowed.

     But more than that, Jesus Christ, the  Creator  of  the Universe, took
on the form and limitations of His creatures.  He became poor in  position,
The  first  became  last;  the Sovereign  became  the  Servant.  (Philippians
2:7)  Lepers came to Him and were made clean; the blind asked  for  sight
and   received  it.  Harlots  came  to  His  feet  and  were forgiven.

     But  Jesus's  greatest  sacrifice  was when He gave His life on the
Cross for you and me.  Salvation  for  our  sins cost us nothing; it cost Him
everything.

     How can Jesus make you rich?  By  giving  you  Himself.  When  you
receive  the  Savior,you have forgiveness of sins because of His death for
you.(Colossians  1:14)  Because  He was  raised from the dead and now sits at
the Father's right hand in Heaven, He  gives  you  eternal  life  and  you
are adopted  into  God's family.  (John 5:24) By God's grace you become a
"joint heir" with Christ.  (Romans 8:17)  And daily He Gives you power for
living.  (Philippians 4:13)

     God gave the very best.  Are you spiritually poor?  You can be rich.
The Bible says" If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart  that God  hath  raised  Him  from the dead,
thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9) Receive Him and the Riches He died to
give you can be yours.           -- Robin Sheffield

** Goodnews BBS     (817) 572-6397 **


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