An Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at Creekwood  

No Greater Friend   

Horror gripped the heart of the World War I soldier as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the open field between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back.

"You can go," said the Lieutenant, "but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead, and YOU may get killed in the process."

The Lieutenant's words didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway.  He managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder, and brought him back to their company's trench. As the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench, the lieutenant checked the wounded soldier, then looked kindly at his friend.....

"I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "Your friend is DEAD, and now 
YOU are mortally wounded."

"It WAS worth it, though, sir," the soldier said. "What do you mean, 'worth it'?" responded the Lieutenant. "Your friend is dead!"

"Yes sir," the private answered. "But when I got to him, he was STILL alive, and I heard him say..... 'Jim, I knew you'd come.'"

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" 
(John 15:13).

As war rages in Iraq, our hearts go out to those men and women who are fighting for their friends.  Many have given their lives in so doing.  Let us ALL pray that the war will be over soon, that peace will reign in the world.

Another war is being fought and the decisive battle has been won!  As Jesus, the Son of God, hung on the cross, Satan, the archenemy, probably thought the victory was his.  But, he was mistaken.  For on the cross Jesus conquered SIN.  He paid the price for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) that you and I might be forgiven of our sins and have the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven.

On the cross, Jesus died for His friends AND His enemies alike.  Through His sacrifice ALL may find forgiveness of sins.  If we will place our faith in the Son of God and trust Him (Hebrews 11:6), repent of our sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized in His name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38), then His blood becomes the payment for our sin.  As we CONTINUE to follow Him as Lord, His blood CONTINUES to cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7).

While WE “lay dying” in our sin, Jesus came to OUR rescue!  He gave His life for us, so that we might live.  This great act of love should cause each of us to say..... 

“I’m so glad that you came for ME!”  
Won’t YOU respond to His love?

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

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

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