Four Pennies nor a Dollar  (Read 1 Peter 1:18-21)

Jill and Jenny tagged along with Curt to the toy store. While Curt looked at model trains, the girls walked away and found stuffed bears. Little Jill hugged them close. "Jill wants this one," she said, holding a big, soft one. Walking to the counter where she'd seen people pay for things, she held up the bear along with four pennies. "Here's money for my bear," she said.

"I'm sorry, but that won't buy this bear," said the clerk. "Do you have any more money?" Jill shook her head.

Six-year-old Jenny spoke up. "I have a dollar. Is that enough?" she asked.

When the clerk shook her head, Jill and Jenny ran back to Curt. With tears in her eyes, Jill told him about the bear. "Please," she pleaded. "will you buy it for me?"

Curt looked thoughtful. "Well, OK," he agreed. "I was going to buy you a birthday present anyway."

Back home, Jill played with her bear all afternoon. She loved to tell how Curt bought the bear for her. "I couldn't pay for it," she repeated at dinner table. "Jenny couldn't pay for it, either."

"I came closer than you," Jenny put in.

"But only Curt could pay for it." Jill looked adoringly at her big brother. "Curt bought my bear for me."

Mother smiled. "That makes a good object lesson," She said "Some people do a few good things, and they think that will be enough to save them. Others might do more. But the Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Just as neither of you girls had enough money to buy the bear, no one is ever good enough to buy salvation."

"Jesus paid for our salvation by dying on the cross, didn't he?" asked Curt.

"Yes," agreed Mother. "Only Jesus could do that, for he is sinless. He bought our salvation with his precious blood. All we need to do is to receive the free gift." MRP

How about you? - Do you think a good things you do will buy eternal life? No matter how good you are, it will never be enough to buy salvation. Salvation is a free gift, purchased for you by Jesus with his blood. Trust him to save you, and receive your free gift now.

Key: Salvation is God's Gift

Memorize: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 6:23  NKJV 

This is out of the book "The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids"  BUY IT  Copyright @ 1993 Children's Bible Hour

Updated 11/8/00