CAPTIVATED

My husband and I have the most magnificent southern magnolia tree running up the very front of our home. The magnolia blooms in the early spring and late summer. It is simply breathtaking. I can hardly wait every year for the silky white ivory flowers to envelope in its green waxy leaves. Saint Mary Southern Magnolias are my favorite flowers next to white roses. There is something captivating about a magnolia flower bloom. Perhaps it’s the uncertainty and wait of the bloom. The magnolia tree that graces the front of our home doesn’t always bloom a lot of magnolias, but, the few that it does are magnificent. This is what makes it so marvelous to see; a few blooms on this beautiful magnolia tree.

One evening I looked out of my window and I saw a neighbor standing in front of my yard. I didn’t hear anyone at the front door, but when I looked again she had left. I searched for her through my windows and I recognized that it was a neighbor not too far from me, strolling away. I rushed to my back entrance to the patio, lifted up my voice, and said, “Hello! Did you come to my front door?”. She replied, “No” and I said, “I saw you in my front yard”, and she said, “ I was looking at the magnolia tree”, and I said, “Oh, yes.” She then said “It’s unique”, referring to the bloom. I replied, “Yes, it’s beautiful”, and she said “Yes.” It was literally one magnolia bloom left on the magnolia tree, which made it definitely unique. My neighbor took a closer look because of its uniqueness and beauty. She was captivated. At any time one is captivated you always take a closer look. Captivated is to attract and hold attention or interest, as by beauty or excellence. My neighbor was captivated by the rare and unique beauty of the magnolia bloom.

Jesus Christ is the same. Men and women all over the world are captivated by the love of God in Christ Jesus. God’s love abides in Jesus Christ. No man can come to the Father except through his Son Jesus Christ. God put His love in His only begotten Son so we may receive salvation through Him. All men (mankind) need a Savior, all men need a deliverer, all men need this marvelous gift from God which is salvation. Salvation doesn’t cost you anything. You don’t have to buy it. It is free. There isn’t anything on this earth that you don’t have to buy. Even a drop of water, whether it’s in your home, or out in the world, you have to buy it. There was a time you could take a sip of cool water in a water fountain. The water fountain would have a cooling system to keep the water in the fountain cold and crisp. As you pressed the fountain’s button the water would sprout up in an upward motion so that there would be no contact with the fountain dispenser. And if you weren’t careful the gush of water would splash in your face, making it always a delightful experience and it was free. You rarely see water fountains now. Everything you have has to be paid for in this world, except for salvation. Salvation is free! Come and take a drink, come all ye who are thirsty, come! Take a sip of water from the fountain of life so you will never dry up. Come! Taste the Lord and see that He is good! God says, come and drink of the water of life. Come! Try and taste and see if the Lord is not good. One sip of the water of life and you will never thirst again. Taste this water of the fountain of every blessing. Come just a little closer, take a look as my neighbor did at the magnolia bloom.

Many of you are already captivated by Jesus Christ. Jesus is described as the lily of the valley. The beauty of salvation cannot be put into words. Therefore, you must taste it for yourself that Jesus is good. You are already compelled. Your heart has been inclined because of the love of God and Jesus Christ. It will not cost you anything. Taste and see what you’ve been longing for all of your life. Salvation is free of no charge. Come and take one sip of the fountain of life. Your heart has been searching. Your heart has been longing. Your heart has been captured by the one that loves your very soul, Jesus Christ.

It doesn’t matter what you have done, Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood to wash away all of your sins. Embrace it. Receive it. Take it! Everything in life comes to a pivotal moment that all men must face their destiny; salvation. Come and taste the Lord and see that He is good. Come, and take a drink of the living waters. You will never thirst again because you are captivated by Him, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (ISAIAH 55:1).

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (PSALM 34:8).

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (JOHN 4:10).

Glory to God,

Reverend Helen Trower