The Touch Of The Master's Hand

                                                          (Myra Brooks Welch, 1878-1959)

‘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 bid, good folk?” he cried.
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar … now two … only two …
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

“Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
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 up the strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
As he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars … and who’ll make it two?
Two…two thousand, and who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once and three thousand twice;
Three thousand and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried
“We do not quite understand …
What changed it’s worth?” Swift came the reply:
” ‘Twas the touch of the master’s hand.”

And many a man with soul out of tune
And battered and scarred by sin
Is auctioned cheap by the thoughtless crowd Just 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!

The Bible says: 

   "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." [2Corinthians 5:15].

The Invitation Still Stands

   “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and  my burden is light … I am come a light into the world, that whooever believeth on me should not abide in darkness … And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world … And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” - Jesus Of Nazareth." [Matt11:28,29,30; Jhn12:46,47Rev22:17].

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