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Signs
of Love
“Tie
A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree” was the title of a popular song in the 1970s written by Irwin Levine and L.
Russell Brown. It
was recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn among others.
The words of the song tell a story from the
perspective of a convict who has just been released
from prison after a three-year term.
He wants to know if the woman
that he loves has forgiven him and if she still loves
him. Previously
he had written a letter to his sweetheart with
instructions as to how he would know if she still
loved him or not.
The instructions make up the chorus of the
song:
Tie
a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
It's been three long years
Do you still want me?
If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
Would
she tie a yellow ribbon around the tree?
Had he been forgiven? Did she still love him, and would she welcome him home?
He could not bear to look.....
But
as the bus approached the designated oak, the
occupants who were aware of his agonizing situation
erupted in cheers and applause.
The man looked and to his astonishment....there
was not one, but ONE HUNDRED yellow
ribbons tied to the old oak tree!
Because of those ribbons, he knew that she
still loved him
and welcomed him home. *
Like
the man on the bus, WE are sometimes fearful because
we are guilty of sin and know that we are to blame.
We wonder, “Can I truly be forgiven for my
mistakes?”
There
is another tree that reveals God’s answer.
The
"tree" that reveals the answer is the
cross of Jesus Christ! And
the answer is: “YES, I love you and will
forgive you.”
“But
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans
5:8). On
the cross, He paid the price for OUR sins so that we
might have forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
God
will forgive those who: believe
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38). He
will continue to forgive those who continue to walk in
the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).
Through
the cross of Christ, God says, “I love you and I
forgive you.”
Won’t
YOU
accept His forgiveness through your trusting
obedience?
--
David
A. Sargent,
Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
*
Many thanks to J.R. Zeringue and Wayne Dunaway in “A Closer Walk,” a G
& P Ministries Daily Devotional, for referencing this song and making
another great application. See
G & P Ministries -- http://www.gandpministries.org/
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