Legend has it that in the days of the old west, there were two teenage boys who were caught steeling sheep. The small town wanted to make an example of these boys, sending a message to the community that they would not tolerate such behavior, so a motion was passed to put a brand on their foreheads of "ST" for "Sheep Thief."
Well, one boy couldn't stand the ridicule and shame and fled from his hometown, never to be heard of again.
The other boy allowed the humiliation to mature him quickly, and he decided to stay in that town and never again be a source of shame or pain to its citizens. He devoted his life to the Lord, worked hard and eventually started a general store.
As the years past, the people of that town grew to love this branded man, and knew he could be trusted with anything. He had become a pillar of the community, his store thrived and he had a wonderful family, with many grandchildren.
One day, a young man came to that town and saw the old man in the general store with the brand of "ST" on his forehead. He couldn't help but be curious, so he asked another old-timer, "Say, what's with that fellow with the "ST" on his head? What does "ST" stand for?"
The old gentleman scratched his head, thinking back over the years that he had known this man, his goodness to the town, and love for its people, and simply said, "Near as I can recall, "ST" stands for "Saint."
"When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same any more. A new life has begun!" (2 Cor. 5:17 TLB).
Have a fantastic day in the Lord, realizing that no matter what you have done in the past; no matter what "brands" others have placed on you, when you come to Jesus Christ, He can turn your brand into "brand new" by the power of His love and forgiveness.
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