There was a school with a class of students that no teacher had been
able to handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this
school in one year by the unruly students.
A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to
the school. The principal asked the young man, "Do you know what you
are asking for? No one else has been able to handle these students.
You are just asking for a terrible beating."
After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man looked at the
principal and said, "Sir, with your consent I accept the challenge.
Just give me a trial basis." The next morning the young man stood
before the class. He said to the class, "Young people, I came here
today to conduct school. But I realize I can't do it by myself.
I must have your help.
"One big boy, they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered
to his buddies, "I won't need any help. I can lick that little bird
all by myself."
The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school,
there would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added that he
would allow the students to make up the rules and that he would list
them on the blackboard.
This was certainly different, the students thought! One young man
suggested "NO STEALING." Another one shouted "BE ON TIME FOR
CLASS." Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board. The teacher
then asked the class what the punishment should be for breaking these
rules. "Rules are no good unless they are enforced", he said.
Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they
should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat
off. The teacher thought that this was pretty harsh, so he asked the
class if they would stand by this punishment. The class agreed.
Everything went along pretty good for two or three days. Then Big
Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen
his lunch. After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion
that little Timmy had stolen Big Tom's lunch. Someone had seen little
Timmy with Big Tom's lunch! The teacher called little Timmy up to the
front of the room.
Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom's lunch. So the teacher
asked him, "Do you know the punishment? Little Timmy nodded that he
did. "You must remove your coat," the teacher instructed. The little
fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the
teacher, "I am guilty and I am willing to take my punishment, but please
don't make me take off my coat."
The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and
again told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like
a man. The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he
did so, the teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat.
And even worse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat.
The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without a
shirt on. Little Timmy replied, "My daddy's dead and my mother is very
poor. I don't have but one shirt, and my mother is washing it today. I
wore my big brother's coat so that I could keep warm."
That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine
protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered
how he could lay a rod on that little back and without even a shirt on.
Still, he knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not
obey the rules. So he drew back to strike little Timmy.
Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle. He asked, "Is
there anything that says that I can't take little Timmy's whipping for
him?" The teacher thought about it and agreed. With that Big Tom
ripped his coat off and stooped and stood over little Timmy at the desk.
Hesitatingly, the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But
for some strange reason after only five licks that old rod just broke
in half.
The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He
heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the
room. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck
apologizing to him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy begged Big Tom
to forgive him. He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day
he died for taking his whipping for him.
Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us? That He shed
His precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life
in Glory with Him? We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but
aren't you glad He loves us that much?
This is a story everyone needs to know. So if you know anyone else
who may be blessed by this story, please pass it on. God bless you,
and keep you safe.
Most people's troubles come from too much time on their hands, and not enough on their knees.
For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat."
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
Sent to me by a friend....... I pray upon you STORMS OF BLESSINGS not mere showers of blessings I would rather hear them come down in THUNDER and see them in LIGHTNING SO LETS HAVE SOME GOOD THUNDERSTORMS OF BLESSINGS
