A Hopeless Case

Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-10

“Hey, guys, I, uh…I invited Hayden to join us,” Ben told his friends as they set up tents to camp out in his backyard. “He said he’d think about it.”

“You’re kidding!” Liam paused to stare at Ben. “Why’d you do that? He always acts so tough!”

“And he uses bad language,” said Elijah. “Why would you even want him to come?”

“Maybe if some of us are nice to him, he’ll learn that God isn’t just a swear word,” said Ben. “Besides, it’s not like we’re perfect—we’re all sinners, but Jesus saved us.”

Liam shook his head. “Hayden is hopeless. He’s not gonna change.”

The boys had a great time that night eating hot dogs, chips, watermelon, and sleeping in their tents. But Hayden didn’t come.

As the year passed, Ben continued to be friendly toward Hayden. “I finally got Hayden to come to vacation Bible school,” Ben told his dad as they worked in the backyard the following summer. “But he still acts as tough as ever. The guys think he’s hopeless. Are they right?”

Dad shook his head. “With Jesus, there is no such thing as hopeless. He’s able to change anyone.”

Ben pointed to a fairly large plant growing among the weeds near the fence. “Look, Dad. That looks like a watermelon vine.” A minute later, he exclaimed, “It is! There’s a tiny melon on it. It must have started growing from the seeds of that watermelon we ate when my friends and I camped out here last summer!”

As Ben spoke, someone called to him from the sidewalk. He looked up and saw Hayden standing there, so he walked over to chat.

“I was just wondering…um…that Bible story the teacher told us in VBS today—I didn’t get some of it,” Hayden said hesitantly. “Could you explain it to me some more?”

“Sure!” said Ben. “I’ll get us some lemonade and we can talk on the porch.”

After Hayden left, Ben excitedly told his dad about their conversation.

“It sounds like the seed of God’s Word is finally taking root in Hayden’s heart, just like that watermelon seed took root in our yard,” Dad said with a smile. “It took a long time, but no one is hopeless as far as God is concerned.”

-Carolyn E. Yost

How About You?

Do you know someone who seems to be a hopeless case—hopeless as far as ever coming to Jesus? Nothing is impossible with God. Keep praying for your unsaved friends. Invite them to church, talk about Jesus, and show His love in your words and actions. Jesus changed Zacchaeus’s heart in today’s Bible reading, and He changed your heart when you trusted in Him. He can change your friends’ hearts too.

Today’s Key Verse:
Mark 10:27 With God all things are possible. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

No one is hopeless