"For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life."
- John 3:16

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Years ago, I heard a story similar to this on  the radio.  I cannot remember the exact story line and have no idea  where the story originated.  The name of it was "A Christmas  Story."  Today's devotional is very loosely based on this story, but  has been renamed and most of the content has been re-written by  myself.  I cannot claim the idea as original, but the rendering of it  certainly is.  

Years ago, there was a very wealthy couple who were unable to  bear children.  For many months they prayed to God for a child, and  yet the wife continued to be barren.  They passed the age that  normally allows for successful conception and began to realize in  despair that they would not have any children of their own.

Still, they persisted in their prayers, trusting that God would  send them a child.  The woman did, in fact, finally conceive a child  and they were greatly overjoyed.

Several months into the pregnancy two things were discovered.   First, their child would be a boy.  They would have a son!  Second,  their child would be born with birth defects.  

Whey the baby  boy was born he arrived in the world horribly  disfigured.  Yet, the couple loved this boy with all of their hearts.   They were still overjoyed that God had sent them a baby.
 
Shortly after the baby was born, the wife died and left the father  to raise the boy by himself.  The father grew even closer to the child  and love him greatly.  Soon the deformities were barely noticed in  this father's eyes.

The young boy had a terrible time in the world.  Everyone  around mocked him and ridiculed him because he was different.   Even though his heart was pure and loving, even though he would  have done anything in his power to help those in need, he was still  an outcast.

Sadly, the young man was killed by a group of individuals who 
despised him, because he did not fit into their group.  The father  was greatly grieved.  It was not long after his son's death that the  father died of a broken heart.  An auction was to be held to sell of  his entire estate, which was worth in excess of eighty million  dollars.  Bidders gathered from all throughout the land to bid on  this man's estate.  In his life he had collected some of the world's  most spectacular paintings, some of the world's most splendid  sculptures and some of the world's most precious gems.

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's  list.  It was a painting of the man's disfigured son.  The auctioneer  asked for an opening bid.  The room was silent.  "Who will open the  bidding with $100?"  he asked.  Minutes passed, no one spoke.   From the back of the room came, "Who cares about that painting?   It's just a picture of his son.  Let's forget it and go on to the good  stuff."  Many voices from the crowd echoed in agreement.  "No, we  must sell this one first," said the auctioneer."  "Now, who will take  the son?"

Finally, the maid who had served the man faithfully for many  years spoke up, "I don't have any money, but I knew the boy since  he was brought into the world, so I'd like to have it." 

"Do I have another offer?" called the auctioneer.  After more  silence, the auctioneer said, "OK, Going once, going twice, gone!"  The gavel fell.  Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed,  "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!"

The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over as he pulled the backing off of the painting of the  boy.  "Enclosed inside this painting is the will for this estate," the  auctioneer said.  "It's very simple.  According to the will of the  father, whoever takes his son...gets it all."

Indeed, my Christian friend, according to the Will of the Father  in Heaven, whoever takes His Son Jesus...

...gets it all!

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!