Choosing Skye

Bible Reading: JOHN 6:44; 15:16; EPHESIANS 1:4-5; 1 PETER 2:9

“Dad, let’s get her.” Liam pointed to a puppy wrestling several others. His future companion might not know it yet, but he knew which puppy was the one for him.

“Are you sure?” Dad asked.

Liam beamed. “Yup!”

Liam took his new friend home and named her Skye. The first day was tough. Skye was difficult to handle and wouldn’t stay still. She even hid under the couch and refused to come out.

“Give her some time,” Dad told Liam. “It’s probably scary for her to be in a new place.”

The next day wasn’t much better. Skye simply ignored Liam’s calls and gentle words. He tossed a ball to her, but she didn’t seem interested.

Skye continued to hide, and she ignored Liam’s efforts to play with her and pet her. Dad became concerned, but Liam wouldn’t give up.

A week passed with no luck. Then one day, Liam rolled a ball in front of Skye, and she edged out from under the couch. When he offered her a treat, she displayed new interest and gave it a sniff.

“I think she’s coming around,” Liam said when Skye finally let him lead her out into the backyard.

“Yeah, I think she is,” Dad replied.

Another week passed, and Skye was chasing after balls and following Liam everywhere. She stopped hiding and now welcomed his touch.

“She finally trusts me,” Liam said as he watched Skye dash around the yard.

“She sure does.” Dad smiled thoughtfully as he pounded a nail into the deck.

Liam noticed Dad’s look. “What are you thinking about?”

“Oh, I was just thinking how your relationship with Skye is kind of like a Christian’s relationship with God,” Dad replied. “You see, although we make a decision to trust Jesus as our Savior, He chooses us first. You chose Skye when she knew nothing about you, and you were patient as she learned to trust you. God chooses us first too—the Bible says He chose us to be His children before He created the world. Though it may take us a while to come to trust Him as our Savior, He patiently waits for us.”

Liam nodded thoughtfully, then grinned as Skye licked his hand. HOPE DOUGHERTY

How About You?

Did you know that God chooses His children before they choose Him? Although we make a decision to trust Jesus, He reaches out to us first and patiently waits for us to recognize Him as our Savior. It is through His actions that we are saved, not our own. Because of God’s love for us, we can become His children. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse:
JOHN 6:44 NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS THE FATHER WHO SENT ME DRAWS HIM; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

God chose us first