THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folk?" he cried,

"Who'll start the bidding for me?

"A dollar -- a dollar -- then two, only two --

"Two dollars, and who'll make it three?

"Going for three" -- but no --

From the room far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow,

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loosened strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, "NOW what am I bid for the old violin?"

And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars -- and who'll make it two?

"Two thousand -- and who'll make it three?

"Three thousand once -- three thousand twice --

"And going -- and gone," cried he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

"We do not understand.

"What changed its worth?" Quick came the reply,

"The touch of the Master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap, to a thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage" -- a glass of wine,

A game -- and he travels on:

He is going once -- and going twice --

He's going -- and almost gone!

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought

By the touch of the Master's hand.

by Myra Brooks

The MASTER'S hand is the only hand that can transform the soul. This

very moment the Lord Jesus Christ is waiting to turn your darkness into day,

your sorrow into joy.

Hear His call: "Come now and let us reason together...though your

sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. (1)

Have more wonderful words ever been spoken? God wants to cleanse

your life from sin and give you a new life of hope and joy. He does not

ask you to change your life yourself. He asks you to come to Him just as

you are. His Word promises: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth

us from all sin." (2)

But first you must trust totally upon God's mercy. You cannot depend

on your "good works" to gain entrance into Heaven. For before God we are

all sinners. "There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned, and

come short of the glory of God." (3)

There is only one way, one door through which we can enter the

Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said: "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he

shall be saved." (4)

Jesus made the way for you and me by dying on the cross for your

sins: "He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was

upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (5) You can receive

the risen victorious Lord Jesus Christ by faith now: "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." (6) "Repent and

be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission

of sins..." (7)

Why hold back any longer? Come to the Master today.

BIBLE REFERENCES:

(1) Isaiah 1:18

(2) 1 John 1:7

(3) Romans 3:10

(4) John 10:9

(5) Isaiah 53:5

(6) Romans 10:9

(7) Acts 2:38