Become World-Class Christians—Part 7
Continuing with the story, “The Orphan Exodus.”
“Is the taxi vanguard ready?” asked the King.
“Yes, my Lord. Ready and waiting.” His voice was full of satisfaction.
At that the Orphan Keeper screamed, staggering on her feet. “S-s-s-s. You!—you! You can’t take thes-s-s-e children! They’re waifs-s-s-s-s! They’re cavils-s-s-s-s, slaves-s-s-s-s! The wolves-s-s-s-s will tear them to shreads-s-s-s-s. They do my bidding! They won’t come with you! S-s-s-s.”
Paying no attention, the King lifted his crossed arms and spread them in a circle above his head. More light diffused from his stretching embrace, till it filled every comer of the grim courtyard. The orphans’ frozen feet began to warm; their cold, wet garments began to dry; their wounds and sores began to heal in the gentle light. Their hearts began to mend.
“What you don’t understand, madame,” said the King, “is that every orphan answers when his name is called in love.”
Then the King began to call their names, names unspoken for months, for years, names they themselves had almost forgotten. He called them in family groups, brothers and sisters, brothers and brothers, sisters and sisters, according to age and position. He spoke their names with tenderness, with kindly affection, with cherished intimacy as though he had been practicing them for years.
“Kristen, Ned, James, Sara, and Susan.
Anne, Ted, John, and Linda.
Jason and Maria.
Alex, Sharon, and Rob.
Eric, Jane, and Cathy.
Diane … ”
And each child remembered his or her name. And each child stepped from the ranks. He was more than a number, more than flesh for the meat grinder of the Enchanter’s labor machines. He had a name chosen in love and a family history and a King who was worthy of service.
Can this fictional account of Christ’s making children’s lives easier be lived out in reality in many places of the world? I trust it’s not too late to dream that this remains a possibility.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
