Mine Again

Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15; Romans 10:9

“Today is the lost-and-found auction at school,” Noah said as he grabbed his backpack. The week before, students at Noah’s school had been given one last opportunity to claim any lost-and-found items belonging to them. The things that remained unclaimed were going to be auctioned off.

At lunchtime, Noah watched kids bid on items like scarves, mittens, and sweaters. But when the principal-turned-auctioneer held up a baseball mitt and began to describe it, Noah sat up straight. That’s my mitt, he thought. I wondered what happened to it.

Noah quickly made a bid to get his mitt back. Some other kids wanted it too, and back and forth the bidding went. I hope I have enough money to get my mitt back, thought Noah. After bidding his last dollar, he held his breath, looking around to see if anyone would outbid him. No one did. The mitt was his!

Back home, Noah told his parents what had happened. “The mitt is mine again, but it was always mine. It doesn’t seem fair that I had to buy it back.”

Dad nodded. “Your experience is a good example of what God has done for us. He made us, so in a sense, we all belong to Him. But just like your mitt got lost, humankind got lost—lost in sin. And just like your mitt had to be redeemed—or bought back—we had to be bought back too.”

“That’s right,” said Mom, “and just like it took all you had to buy that mitt back, it took all Jesus had to buy us back. He left the glory of heaven and gave His life—He died on the cross so that we could be brought back to God. When we believe and trust in Him, we’re no longer lost—we become God’s children and truly belong to Him once more.”

Noah looked down at his mitt and smiled. “I’m really thankful I was able to get this lost mitt back, even though I had to pay for it,” he said. “And I’m even more thankful Jesus bought me back by paying for my sins!” – Hazel W. Marett

How About You?

Did you know that Jesus paid a great price to buy you back from sin? He gave His life so you could belong to Him and no longer be lost. When you trust Him as your Savior, He redeems you and gives you eternal life. Trust in Him today! (See “The ABCs of Salvation” on the right column of this page.) Then be sure to thank Him for all He’s has done and for His amazing salvation.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Peter 1:18-19 You were…redeemed with…the precious blood of Christ. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus paid for your sin