Lost Grades

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

“Mom, guess what happened?” said Adriel as he rushed into the house after school. “Jasper and Weston think it’s funny, but my teacher is so upset!”

“Why?” asked Mom. “What happened?”

Adriel reached for an apple. “Mrs. Cook’s laptop died. It was working fine this morning, but then she left the room for a few minutes while we were outside for recess, and when she came back, it wouldn’t turn on.” Adriel took a bite of his apple. “I wonder if Jasper and Weston had something to do with it, though I don’t know how they could have pulled it off.”

“Why would Jasper and Weston want Mrs. Cook’s computer to break down?” asked Mom.

“Because all our grades were saved on it!” said Adriel. “And now our grades might be lost. Jasper and Weston think it’s funny that if Mrs. Cook’s computer can’t be fixed, they won’t get report cards showing their bad grades.”

“I think Mrs. Cook will manage to come up with grades one way or another,” said Mom.

“Well, I hope she remembers I got an A on my last history test,” Adriel said. “I worked really hard to get that A!”

“I know you did,” said Mom. “But I can see how kids who didn’t do well would like to have their grades canceled or forgotten.” She gave Adriel a thoughtful look. “In fact, I know exactly what that feels like, and I think you do too!”

“Me?” asked Adriel. “I know I’m not a straight-A student, but I’ve always done pretty well in school.”

“Yes, but none of us has lived a perfect life, have we?” said Mom. “The Bible says we’re sinners because of the wrong things we’ve done. We’ve all failed to live up to God’s perfect standard. But guess what? Even though we deserve a failing grade, Jesus lived a perfect life and then died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve so our sin could be canceled! When we trust in Him, He credits us with His goodness so we can enjoy the reward of eternal life with Him.”

“Wow,” said Adriel. “I didn’t think of that. I’m so glad Jesus canceled my sin and gave me the good grade He earned instead!”

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?

How would you feel if you could have a bad grade replaced with a good grade? The Bible says you can! We’re all sinners who have failed to live the way we should, but Jesus died so our sin could be replaced with His goodness. You can’t earn a passing grade in the eyes of God on your own—you need Jesus’s perfect score. Trust in Him today, and your sin will be canceled. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus cancels sin