FOODFORTHOUGHT

JEFFIE AND GRANDPA

Author Unknown

November 1, 2012

Jeffie was in his playpen and he was crying. Tears were rolling down his
little cheeks, his face was red as it could be. He was crying, and he looked
pitiful in his little baseball T-shirt and a diaper.

Then Jeffie's Grandpa entered the room; Jeffie's little face lit up when he
saw his Grandpa! He immediately reached out his little arms in supplication
and said "Out Pa Pa out."

What is a Grandpa to do? How can someone resist that?

So Grandpa went over to the playpen, he bent over. He reached down to lift
his little buddy from captivity and distress . . .

Just then "Law and Order" walked into the room.

Momma said "Jeffie, you stay right there! I'm punishing you because you have
been naughty! Dad, leave Jeffie alone!"

What is a Grandpa to do?

Grandpa backs off and is thinking, "I can't just pick up a book and read it
with Jeffie here. He would think I was uncaring and distant. I can't leave
the room because he would feel like I have abandoned him."

What is a Grandpa to do?

But you know what? Love always finds a way. Since Grandpa couldn't take
Jeffie out of the playpen, Grandpa climbed in with Jeffie!

Grandpa said "If you are in the playpen buddy, I'm in the playpen too. What
are you in for? What is your sentence?"

Having Grandpa join him in his "prison cell" brought Jeffie great comfort
and joy. In the midst of his captivity, Jeffie no longer felt so alone.

What Jeffie's Grandpa did is also a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us
when He came to Earth as a baby.

God the Father yearned to reach down into our "playpen of captivity" and
pull us out. He could not . . . because of our disobedience . . . because of
our sin. What did God do?

God climbed into our "playpen" with us!

When Jesus Christ entered into our "playpen of captivity," He took the sin
and disobedience that should have been ours alone, releasing us from our
captivity . . . allowing us the opportunity to experience the fullness of
life God has for us!

The message is simple, clear and personal: God with us . . . He loves you so
much He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ!


"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life. For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world
through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of
God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18 (NIV)