This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:11-12, ESV
In the 1800s, Queen Victoria was crossing the English Channel on her royal yacht.
During the course of the trip, her eye fell upon a tiny bird, who with fluttering wings, tried to follow the ship. Apparently, the bird had been attracted by the brightness of the silk flag which floated at the masthead.
The queen turned to her daughter and pointed to the bird.
As they watched, they could see the bird was becoming weak and weary, darting down to the waves, then climbing back up, trying to find some place to rest. But as this bird was a fragile creature used to the woods and not the company of man, it refused to settle down on the ship. With a faint cry it rose from the waves, soared up to the masthead and, unsuccessfully, tried to rest upon the flag, which had drawn it from the land -- away from safety, shelter and home.
The heart of the queen was filled with pity and she commanded her sailors to save the weary bird.
Wishing to please his Monarch every able-bodied man jumped to do the job Victoria had entrusted to them. They used every art and every device to capture that bird. Sadly, all their efforts to rescue the bird only terrified it more.
At last it fell upon the deck at the feet of the queen.
Her majesty stooped and picked up the dead bird and held it tenderly in her hands. Victoria, Queen over an empire upon which the sun never set, had been absolutely helpless in sparing the life of a single, small, scared bird. Her good intentions had not been good enough; her power had proven to be insufficient to the task.
I would like to point out that some things don't change.
In the worlds of politics, medicine, education and philanthropy, there are many who, with good intentions, are eager to try and save us. It is true, they are willing, but it is equally true, they are not able. Most certainly, they may assist you with simple problems and minor difficulties, but they cannot correct or cure the great sickness of sin that besets and condemns our souls.
Nobody can save us other than Jesus.
That is because Jesus alone
• has lived a perfect life so that our sinful imperfections might be forgiven;
• has resisted every temptation so we might be found innocent on Judgment Day;
• has conquered death and shown to this doubting world that His sacrifice to save us has been accepted and is complete.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we give thanks for those people of the world who do their best to make a positive impact. Bless them in their service. Most of all, we pray that every sinful soul may see only Jesus can save from condemnation and damnation. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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