God Transformed Grandpa

Bible Reading: Romans 6:5-7; Galatians 2:19-21

“You’re so funny!” Shiloh laughed as his grandpa juggled three strawberries then caught one in his mouth. “Was he always like this, Dad?”

The two men looked at each other before Grandpa shook his head. “I wasn’t a very good person when your dad was growing up.”

Shiloh turned to his dad, expecting him to argue and say that Grandpa was just being humble. Dad didn’t speak up though, just continued pouring cream into the bowl in front of him.

“The way that I was, and the way that I changed…” Grandpa handed Shiloh a strawberry. “It shows the power of God and how He can change anyone.” Grandpa looked to Shiloh’s dad, who was holding a whisk. “Look in that bowl, Shiloh.”

He did, and he saw a whole lot of liquid. It looked like milk, but thicker.

“Start mixing,” Grandpa told Dad. He put a hand on Shiloh’s shoulder as Dad began whisking the liquid. “Once I trusted in Jesus to save me, I started to see that I needed to change my life. I saw all the things I was doing that were really selfish and how your dad needed me to be better.”

Shiloh frowned. “You’ve always been nice to me. I only remember you being funny and kind and a good guy.”

“Thank you.” Grandpa chuckled. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily true, but thank you. It’s all because of God.” Grandpa pointed to the bowl in front of Dad. “Look at that!”

Shiloh looked and saw that the cream in the bowl was now thick and fluffy.

“Your dad transformed that cream into something else completely,” Grandpa said. “Pouring liquid cream over these strawberries wouldn’t be any good, but just wait until he serves them with that whipped cream after dinner–you’re going to love it! And through the power of the Holy Spirit, who came into my life when I trusted in Jesus, God transformed me and made me into something different altogether. I feel bad that your dad only knew a worse version of me when he was young, but I’m thankful that God showed me grace.”

Dad put an arm around Grandpa. “He shows grace to all of us.”

–Emily Acker

How About You?
Do you believe that God can change lives? Have you seen Him change someone you know–maybe a parent, a sibling, or a friend? Has He changed your life? The Bible says that when we trust in Jesus, our old, sinful selves die with Him on the cross and we become new people who have His Spirit living in us. If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus, do it today, and He will transform you. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)

Today’s Key Verse:
We know that our old life, our old sinful self, was nailed to the cross with Christ. And so the power of sin that held us was destroyed. (NLV)
(Romans 6:6)

Today’s Key Thought:
God can change lives