Sherrards eBook Resellers

Send to Kindle

by James Collins

“He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” John 9:25

Many years ago, a family moved to a little Southern town. There were three children in the family, two older daughters and a little boy. The two girls had the responsibility of taking care of their little baby brother.  

One day, the girls wanted to go swimming. The town did not have a city pool. Instead, the town’s children swam in a little pond on the edge of town. Their momma said, “Okay, but you have got to watch your brother. You need to be careful with him. And you must always keep an eye on him.” The girls said, “Yes, ma’am,” and ran out the door dragging their little brother behind. 

They arrived at the pond and jumped into the water. They had a good time. However, they were new to the community. They didn’t know any of the other kids. So, they were a little stand-offish. Most of the other boys and girls were gathered at one end of the swimming hole. The girls and their little brother were at the other end. 

The girls saw some horses just over a little hill. One said to the other, “This pond is not very big. There are lots of kids here. The water is not very deep, and we will be right back. Let’s go pet those horses.” So, they left their little brother unattended. They left their little brother alone and ran over the hill to the horses.   

They had only been gone a minute, when they heard their brother thrashing in the water. He screamed, “Somebody help me, I’m drowning! Somebody help me, I’m drowning! Somebody help me!”  

They ran back to the pond as fast as they could, but they were too late. When they got there, they saw their brother floating face down in the water. Their little baby brother had drowned. 

The sisters were hysterical. Hot tears rolled down their cheeks. They turned to the kids and said, “Why didn’t you save our brother? You could hear him screaming. You were right here in the water with him.”  

“He was only a few inches from the bank.” the other kids said. “He could have reached out and grabbed it. We told him over and over to just reach out and grab the bank.”  

The girls said through their tears, “Our little brother was blind. Our little brother was blind. He was blind. Every time you told him to reach, he reached the wrong way. He reached out in the wrong direction.” 

The point is: All around us, there are people reaching. Some are reaching for alcohol. Some are reaching for drugs. Some are reaching for sexual sins. Some are reaching for immorality. Some are reaching for false religions. All around us, there are people reaching.  

Over two-thousand years ago, Jesus healed a blind man. When he was questioned by the religious leaders, the man who had been blind said, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” Jesus can still give sight to those who are blindly reaching. 

Reach out and take a hand that is reaching the wrong way and pull that hand toward the Lord Jesus Christ. 

James Collins

James Collins is a pastor, writer, and columnist. Find out more about his ministry at www.thepointis.net. 

Send to Kindle

by James Collins

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

My dog, Socks, is a Miniature Schnauzer. We named him Socks because he is black, but his feet are white. He is a little dog, but he thinks he is big.  

Our neighbor has the biggest German Shepherd I’ve ever seen. I’m not going to lie and tell you the neighbor’s dog is as big as a horse, but he could pass for a pony. He is huge.  

A while back, the kids left the gate open and Socks ran out. He ran right toward the giant German Shepherd. As he ran, Socks was barking and growling. He was acting as if he was going to kill the big dog.  

The only way Socks could kill the big German Shepherd would be if the German Shepherd swallowed Socks and choked on him.  

Socks weighs 10 pounds. The German Shepherd weighs 100 pounds. 

When Socks ran out the gate, I ran out after him. I was trying to catch him to stop him from getting killed.  

Socks beat me to the neighbor’s yard. The big German Shepherd growled. Socks tucked his tail between his legs and ran behind me! He stuck his head out from between my feet and continued to bark at the giant dog. Socks stood behind me barking and growling. It was almost like Socks was saying, “Bring it on, big boy! I’m behind my master. Give it your best shot. Bring it on.” 

I scooped Socks up and got him back inside our fence. Then I talked to him. It is funny how we talk to dogs and we think they understand us. “Socks, you are stupid. Don’t you know I am no match for a giant German Shepherd. We are fortunate we were not chewed to pieces.” 

Socks looked at me like I was an idiot. Then he ran off to chase a squirrel.  

There’s something out there worse than a giant German Shepherd. We have a roaring lion that’s after us. Nevertheless, when we are behind our Master, the devil can’t touch us.  

Are you living in fear? There are a billion and one things to be afraid of in this world. You are always going to have problems in this world. Be that as it may, Jesus says we can have peace because He has overcome the world. 

The point is: When you are behind Jesus, you have nothing to fear. Take your fears, your burdens, and your problems and put them in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ. Let Jesus be your strength.  

What have you got to be afraid of? 

James Collins

James Collins is a pastor, writer, and columnist. Find out more about his ministry at www.thepointis.net.