Paid in Full with One Glass of Milk


By Carol RoundPaid in Full

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

GROVE, OK (ANS) On a spring day in Pennsylvania, a poor boy was selling goods to pay his way through school. The year was 1863, and the boy was going door-to-door to meet his goal. While traveling through the countryside, he became hungry. He only had a dime left, so he decided to ask for food at the next house.

However, he lost his nerve to ask the young woman who answered the door for a meal. Instead, he asked for a drink of water. Thinking he looked hungry, the woman brought him a large glass of milk.  After he slowly savored the nourishment, he asked her, “How much do I owe you?”

The young woman replied, “You don’t owe me anything. Our mother taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.” The boy said, “Then, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

As the young man walked away, he not only felt physically stronger, but his faith in God and man was strengthened also. He had been ready to give up.

Years later, the young woman became critically ill. Baffled by her illness, local doctors sent her to a big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly a distinguished physician was called in for the consultation. In 1895, he founded the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Johns Hopkins University. Hearing the name of the town she came from, Kelly approached her hospital room where he recognized her as the woman who had been kind to him those many years ago.

Determined to do his best to save her life, Dr. Kelly returned to the consultation room where, from that day, he gave special attention to her case. While it was a long struggle for the ill woman, the battle was finally won.

Dr. Kelly asked the business office to send the final billing to him. Looking it over, he wrote something on the edge of the bill.

When the bill was sent to the woman, she was afraid to open it. She just knew it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. When she finally opened the envelope, the words written on the side of the bill grabbed her attention. She read the following words: “Paid in full with one glass of milk.”

Are you like this woman, afraid to open what God has put aside for you? Have you spent much of your life attempting to earn your way into Heaven by being good enough?

When Jesus walked the earth, He exemplified kindness. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, chased out demons from the possessed, fed the multitudes with a small boy’s offering and left behind hope wherever he went.

John 3:16 tells us, “God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, would have everlasting life.” Another man, the Son of God, already paid in full with His life so that you might have eternal life. In fact, you don’t have to do anything but believe it.

The bible states; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9 Say a simple prayer something like this:

Jesus, please forgive my sin. I know I haven’t done everything that I should with my life and I’ve often ignored your attempts to be a part of it. I know that you died for me and that you have a plan for my life. Please teach me your ways and help me to live my life for you, free from the fears of this world and the next. I want to be ready for eternity with you. Amen

Congratulations, if you have prayed this prayer, the Bible says, “ Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cr 5:17)

If you’ve prayed this prayer for the first time or are renewing your commitment to the Lord, please let us know so that we can pray for you as you start your new life with Jesus.




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