"To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Rev. 1:5-6)

A boy noted a sign "Puppies for Sale," got off his bike and said to the owner, "How much do you want for the pups, mister?" "Twenty-five dollars, son." The boy's face dropped. "Well, sir, could I at least see them anyway?" The man whistled, and in a moment the mother dog came bounding around the corner of the house tagged by four cute puppies, wagging their tails and yipping happily. At last, another pup came straggling around the house, dragging one hind leg. "What's the matter with that puppy, mister?" the boy asked. "Well, Son, that puppy is crippled. We took her to the vet and the doctor took an X ray. The pup doesn't have a hip joint and that leg will never be right."

The boy dropped the bike, took out a fifty-cent piece, and pleaded, "Please, I want to buy that pup. I'll pay you fifty cents every week until the twenty-five dollars is paid." The man replied, "But, Son, you don't seem to understand. That pup will never be able to run or jump. That pup is going to be crippled forever. Why would you want such a useless pup as that?" The boy paused for a moment, then reached down and pulled up his pant leg, exposing an iron brace and leather knee-strap holding a poor twisted leg. The boy answered, "Mister, that pup is going to need someone who understands him to help him in life!"

Crippled and disfigured by sin, the risen, living Christ has given us hope. He understands us--our temptations, our discouragements, and even our thoughts. By His resurrection we have help in this life and hope for the life to come. (From Illustrations Unlimited, By James S. Hewett, p. 75).