"Neither of them had the money to pay him back — so he canceled the debts of both." Luke 7:42
All of us are in debt. Of course there is a difference in the amount of our debts. Some have sinned far more than others. But whether our debt is little or much — we have nothing at all with which to pay it. We could not more easily pay the fifty, than the five hundred. God forgave them both. It is just as easy for God to forgive the greatest sins — as the smallest. He forgave them. That is the only way we can ever get clear of our sins.
A king owed a large sum to one of his nobles — but could not pay it. The nobleman made a great feast in honor of his king. A fire of perfumed woods burned on the hearth. During the feast, the host brought out all he king's debt-notes and cast them into the fire, thus obliterating beyond possibility of restoration, every evidence of his indebtedness. That is the way God does with our sins. Into the fragrant flames of Christ's sacrifice — he casts them all, and they will never more be heard of!
There is a story of a half-witted boy whose idea of forgiveness was beautiful. He said that Jesus came, and with his red hand rubbed out all of his sins.
A quaint man used to carry a little book, which he took very often from his pocket, and which he called his "biography." It had only three pages, and there was not a word written on any of them; yet he said the book told the whole story of his life. The first leaf was black: that was his sin; that was his condition by nature. He would shudder when he looked at it. The second was red: that was the blood or Christ; and his face glowed when he gazed upon it. The third was white: that was himself washed in Christ's blood, made whiter than snow. His book told the whole story of every redeemed life. Between the black of our sins — and the white of redemption — must always come the red of Christ's blood.
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.