An Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at Creekwood  

Hounded

In the 14th century, Robert the Bruce of Scotland was leading his men in a battle to gain independence from England . Near the end of the conflict, the English wanted to capture Bruce to keep him from the Scottish crown. So they put his own bloodhounds on his trail.

When the bloodhounds got close, Bruce could hear their baying. His attendant said, "We are done for. They are on your trail, and they will reveal your hiding place." Bruce replied, "It's all right." Then he headed for a stream that flowed through the forest. He plunged in and waded upstream a short distance. When he came out on the other bank, he was in the depths of the forest.

Within minutes, the hounds, tracing their master's steps, came to the bank. They went no farther. The English soldiers urged them on, but the trail was broken. The stream had carried the scent away. A short time later, the crown of Scotland rested on the head of Robert the Bruce. *

ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(Romans 3:23).  The memory of our sins, prodded on by Satan, can be like those baying dogs – hounding us with guilt and shame.  But a stream flows, red with the blood of God's own Son. By passing through that stream, by God’s grace through our obedient faith, we are safe. No sin-hound can touch us. The trail of sin is broken by the precious blood of Christ.

“There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”

-- William Cowper

WE can beplunged beneath that floodand have all of our “guilty stains” washed away by the blood of Jesus when we by faith in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and submit to baptism (immersion) in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  Then, if we continue to follow Him faithfully, we will receive the crown of life one day (Revelation 2:10).

Don’t be hounded by the guilt of sin any longer.  Allow Jesus to WASH away your sins through your trusting obedience to Him.

 -- David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

* E. Lutzer, Putting Your Past Behind You,  Here's Life, 1990, p.42 as qtd. in SermonIllustrations.com

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