Paid in Full

Bible Reading: Romans 5:6-9

Mia stepped into the department store, her eyes instantly fixing on the crystal music box glittering in the sunlight pouring in through the window. She had been searching for a birthday gift for her sister, Tarrin, and the music box would be perfect—if only she had the money to pay for it.

Mia picked up the box, admiring its delicate beauty as she lifted the lid. A ballerina sprang up, her tulle skirt sparkling as she twirled in the air. Then a loud noise from behind Mia caused her to jump and stumble backward. The box slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor.

“You’re going to have to pay for that,” said a clerk standing behind the counter.

Mia’s cheeks flushed with shame as she met the young man’s cold stare. She didn’t have that kind of money. Her mother was already working extra shifts just to pay the bills. “But I can’t,” Mia said in a quivering voice.

The man glowered at her, then reached for the phone.

“No, please!” Mia’s eyes filled with tears. “Don’t call anyone. I didn’t mean to—”

“I’ll pay for it,” said a voice from behind her.

Mia quickly turned around. Her eyes widened as she saw her sister walk up to the counter, holding out money.

“You can’t do this, Tarrin,” Mia insisted. “It was my fault. I should pay for it.” She knew Tarrin was saving up money to buy a car.

Tarrin smiled and handed the man the money.

“Why are you doing this?” Mia asked.

“Because I love you,” Tarrin answered.

A warm feeling flooded Mia’s body as her heart swelled with gratitude. Her Sunday school teacher’s words came to mind about how God loved her so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for her sins. Jesus paid the price for the wrong things she did, even though she didn’t deserve it.

“Thank you, Tarrin,” Mia said as the clerk printed a receipt. And thank you, Jesus, she prayed silently, for paying the price of my sin.

-Ann Garde

How About You?

Have you ever broken something you couldn’t pay for? Each one of us is a sinner who’s done wrong, and we could never pay the price of sin ourselves. So Jesus paid it for us! Because of His great love for us, He willingly died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? If not, trust Him today, knowing the price of your sin has been paid in full. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse: Romans 5:8 (NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus paid the price of sin