Fading Flowers (Part 1)

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:6–8; James 4:13–15

Greta and Harper ran through an empty field behind their house. The warm summer breeze rustled in the grass, and golden butterflies flitted among the wildflowers.

“It was nice of Mom to pack us a picnic lunch to bring out here, wasn’t it?” Greta said as she placed their picnic basket on the ground. “She said we could play out here as long as she can see us from the house.”

“Look!” Harper pointed to a clump of pink flowers. “Pink is Mom’s favorite color—let’s pick some flowers for her.”

The girls gathered some flowers and placed them in the shade. Then they played the rest of the morning before eating their picnic lunch. “This is so good!” Harper said as she took a big bite of her sandwich.

Greta nodded in agreement. “Grandpa says everything tastes better outside, and I think he’s right.”

After the girls ate, they played some more. “There’s Mom,” said Greta, looking toward their house. “She’s motioning for us to come home. Let’s go.”

“Wait! Her flowers,” said Harper. She ran over to the tree to get them. “Oh no!” she cried, holding them up. “Look! They’re all wilted and ugly. Let’s pick some more.”

“It’s too late. We have to go home,” said Greta. “We should have taken them to Mom right away.”

When the girls told their mother about the flowers, she smiled. “That’s okay,” she said. “It was a nice thought. You can bring me some another time.” She hugged them both. “There’s a Bible verse that compares our lives on earth to grass that withers and flowers that fade. It always reminds me that time goes by really quickly. Sometimes we think we have a lot of time to do something, but before we know it, the chance to do it is gone.”

“That’s what happened with the flowers today,” said Harper.

“Yes,” said Mom, “and even missing out on little, everyday things like giving someone flowers can make us feel sad. But it’s much sadder when someone misses the chance to know Jesus as their Savior. The Bible urges us to trust in Him for salvation now. We don’t want to put it off until it’s too late.” •Sherry L. Kuyt

How About You?

Are there things you put off doing until later? Is trusting Jesus as your Savior one of them? Right now it probably feels like there’s plenty of time to make that decision. But the truth is, you really don’t know if you’ll have another day—or even another minute. Don’t wait any longer. God’s invitation won’t last forever. Trust in Jesus today.

Today’s Key Verse:
2 Corinthians 6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Now is the time to trust in Jesus