I once heard a story about a cottage in a little country village. In the cottage a family of four: father, mother, and two small children. One evening the cottage caught on fire. In a few seconds the thatched roof and the wooden timbers were ablaze.

There was no fire engine in this remote spot and the villagers stood around helpless. Suddenly a young man, who had just arrived upon the scene cried out, "What, can nothing be done to save them?" When no one responded he jumped through the flames

and darted into the house. A moment later he emerged bearing a little child under each arm. He had carefully protected them from the flames by hiding them under his coat but he himself was badly burned.

The parents of the two children died in the fire. There was much sympathy for the two children in the town and several people wanted to adopt them. When the judge arrived to decide who would adopt the children there were two who petitioned the court. The first was the squire of the village. He had money, position, and a fine house to offer the children. The second petitioner was the man who had rescued the children from the flames. When the judge asked him what right he had to ask the court for the

children he did not answer with words. Instead he held up his hands that had been badly burned and scarred in their recuse and let them do his arguing for him.

Friends, when the devil accuses us before God and asks what right we poor sinners have to be adopted into God's family, I imagine the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't answer with words but rather holds up his nail scarred hands and points to his scarred side.

- Unknown

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It was the beginning of school and the rules for the classroom had be laid down, explained, and were thoroughly understood by everyone. When it was discovered that a lunch was missing everyone was aghast. The punishment for stealing was a swat from that huge fraternity paddle that hung on the teacher's desk.

The teacher began to ferret out the culprit. Soon the scrawniest, weakest little boy was targeted and he confessed to taking the lunch and eating it. The teacher did not want to spank him but the rule was the rule and it must be obeyed. The consequence must be administered.

The little guy with tears running down his cheeks slowly came forward. Just as he got to the front and was about to receive his punishment a rustle of noise came from the back. The biggest lad in the whole class strode to the front, put the little guy aside and bent over the desk. The big brother took the swat for the little brother.

While on Golgotha's mountain Jesus of Nazareth took the swat that we richly deserved. God's justice was served and we were spared. What a wonderful, big Brother we have in Christ.

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In an air force base in Missouri is a plaque and a story of a helicopter pilot who received this nation's highest honor. He was with a helicopter mission during the night time. An accident happened inside the helicopter causing a phosphorescent torch to go off. There were only a few seconds before the plane and all its occupants would be destroyed. This airman picked up this light burning at thousands of degrees of heat and threw it out the open door. He was burned terribly but did manage to survive. For this

act of heroism he was given the Congressional Medal of Honor, our nation's highest honor.

Jesus, the Light of the world, picked up phosphorescent torch of sin and cast it into the depths of hell. He was severely burned but God gave to Him the throne on his right side. We must also give Him the place of highest honor in our hearts. Nothing less will do.

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