John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

I looked out the hotel window and observed a circular air vent across the way. Many sparrows were flying in and out of it. I noticed one pathetic little bird who tried to get in the vent, but all his attempts were in vain.

In Biblical times, there was a watchman at the gate of each city, and there, in San Antonio, Texas, there seemed to be a watch bird of the vent! This bird guarded the nesting area , and was the keeper of the vent, so to speak. The watch bird denied my little feathered friend admittance to the nesting area, and it made me sad. Why, I wondered, did he not belong? What had he done or where had he been hatched, or what was his physical deformity that kept him as the outsider? He seemed determined to gain admittance, flying from one side to the other, trying to make his swoop in to the area. Finally, however, he gave up his valiant effort and just flew away.

In God’s house there is no watchman at the gate to deny our admittance. There is no station of birth, no bad deed we have done, nor any deformity that will keep us barred from the house of the Lord. As a matter of fact, God sent His only son to give us an individual invitation into God’s presence. What a wonderful invitation that is and such a personal one, too. What a wonderful God we have! He knows each one of us personally and He invites us to know and live with him forever, through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thank you Father for the invitation you have given us to reside with you forever.

Marion Smith noles65@aol.com