an angel story by max lucado

as heard from rose today! =) (http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/angel.story.short.pdf)

"The King walked over and reached for the book. He turned it toward Lucifer
and commanded, “Come, Deceiver, read the name of the One who will call
your bluff. Read the name of the One who will storm your gates.” Satan rose
slowly off his haunches. Like a wary wolf, he walked a wide circle toward the
desk until he stood before the volume and read the word:

“Immanuel?” he muttered to himself, then spoke in a tone of disbelief. “God
with us?” For the first time the hooded head turned squarely toward the face of
the Father. “No. Not even You would do that. Not even You would go so far.”

“You’ve never believed me, Satan.”

“But Immanuel? The plan is bizarre! You don’t know what it’s like on Earth!
You don’t know how dark I’ve made it. It’s putrid. It’s evil. It’s…”

“IT IS MINE,” proclaimed the King. “AND I WILL RECLAIM WHAT IS MINE. I
WILL BECOME FLESH. I WILL FEEL WHAT MY CREATURES FEEL. I WILL SEE
WHAT THEY SEE.”

“But what of their sin?”

“I will bring mercy.”

“What of their death?”

“I will give life.”

Satan stood speechless.

God spoke, “I love my children. Love does not take away the beloved’s
freedom. But love takes away fear. And Immanuel will leave behind a tribe of
fearless children. They will not fear you or your hell.”

Satan stepped back at the thought. His retort was childish. “Th-th-they will
too!”

“I will take away all sin. I will take away death. Without sin and without death,
you have no power.”

Around and around in a circle Satan paced, clenching and unclenching his wiry
fingers. When he finally stopped, he asked a question that even I was thinking.
“Why? Why would You do this?”

The Father’s voice was deep and soft. “Because I love them.”"

truly, there is none like You Lord.

with love,
candice.