220- This Is my House

Tim and his sister were discussing the Biblical verse,

“You have been bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6.20).

Tim asked his sister, “What’s the meaning of this verse?”

She answered by telling him the following story:

John was passing by a beautiful house; he told his friends that it was his own. Two days later Sam was with the same friends. He pointed to the same great house and said, "This is my house."

The friends did not want to embarrass Sam, knowing that John claimed the same house to be his own. The next day the same friends were passing by the same house, when Philip got a key from his pocket, opened the house and invited them in. They asked him if it was his house and he said, “Yes, it’s my house. Why are you surprised?”

One of the friends said, “John said that this is his house and Sam said the same thing. Now which one of you is telling the truth?”

Philip answered and said, “We’re all telling the truth. John designed the house so he’s proud of his design and says that it’s his house. Sam owns the house and I’m just the tenant who lives in it.”

Tim's sister remained silent for a while then stated, “I’m God's building. He created me. He bought me with His blood on the Cross and He dwells in me.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: هذا منزلي!

You formed me, O great Architect.

You made me in Your image and saved me.

You shed Your blood for me.

You came down to our earth; You made me Your sacred Temple.

You are my Creator and Savior; You dwell in me.

 You own me, O Great Builder.

Let Your light shine in me,

And please do not leave me, because You are the Source of my Life.

I Feel Lost

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

The True Offering