Grace and a Fishing Pole

Once upon a time, a preacher told his congregation a story about an English professor and a student. It seems the professor was wearing a hat in class this day and one of his students had a notion to throw a rock at him, to try and knock his hat off his head. Unfortunately, the student, in his aim, missed the hat and the rock hit the professor’s head. Instead of punishing the student for his actions toward him, the professor gave him a fishing pole. Then he asked him, “Do you know what grace is?” And the student said, “A fishing pole?” …And there was silence in the congregation…It was a sweet story and one worth pondering. He could have given him what he deserved, but he gave him what he needed. The student deserved to be punished, but he got grace. The professor showed the boy who Jesus was when he did that. That is why I like the story. The boy threw a rock. Stones were thrown in the Bible and Jesus is the rock. Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? He took our punishment on the cross and showed us the greatest act of grace, when he died a terrible death of crucifixion. When you die that way you suffocate to death. Every time you try to lift up your body to breathe, but you can’t breathe, therefore you suffocate. It had to have been an agonizing death. Jesus loved us that much. God came down from heaven in the form of a man Jesus and walked among us and paid our “sin debt” on a lonely cross. I love him so very much and I want to serve him for the rest of my life for what he did for me. Help me Jesus to keep my eyes on you always claiming the word over my life. Jesus said, “Greater things you will do in my name.” The professor did a great thing for the boy; he taught him the love of Jesus. Jesus, who never sinned, died for all sinners, the greatest act of grace and the unmerited favor and love of God. "It is finished," three words that mean so much. Jesus' work here on Earth was done. He came to die for us and our sins. What do we owe him? What should be our response? That is the ultmate GRACE...
(excerpt from my Bible journal, April 12, 2006)