Redeemed

Bible Reading: Romans 5:6-11

Derek stood at the glass counter as his mom handed over his grandmother’s emerald necklace. A man took it and handed her some money. Derek heard her sigh as she placed it in her wallet. They walked silently out of the shop.

On the bus ride home, Derek finally spoke. “Mom, why did you sell Gigi’s necklace? I thought you loved it.”

“I do, but I love you more. The money we got for it will help us get by until I can find work,” his mom replied.

They stopped at the market near their apartment to buy some groceries. Mom even splurged and bought Derek his favorite candy bar.

At Sunday school the next day, Derek’s teacher, Mrs. Brown, asked if anyone had any prayer requests. Derek hesitated but then raised his hand. “Please pray that my mom can find a job so she doesn’t have to sell anything else she loves,” he said quietly. Mrs. Brown prayed, and after class she took him aside. Derek told her about the trip to the pawn shop, Gigi’s beautiful necklace, and even the candy bar. Mrs. Brown didn’t say much but gave him a tight hug.

A few days later, Derek entered his apartment building after school and stuck his key in the mailbox. Inside, he found a small package addressed to his mom. He ran upstairs and found her looking for jobs online.

“This came today, Mom. What is it?” Derek asked.

Mom opened the package and poured the contents onto her desk. It was Gigi’s necklace! As shiny and beautiful as ever. His mom began to sob.

“I don’t understand. I thought you sold it!” Derek exclaimed.

Wiping away tears, his mom said quietly, “I did. But it has been redeemed.”

“Redeemed?” Derek asked. “That sounds like a church word.”

“It is,” Mom said. “It’s just like what Jesus did for us, Derek. The Bible says we were sold into death by our sins—just like I sold this necklace—but Jesus’s death on the cross bought us back. He redeemed us and gave us eternal life—just like someone bought this necklace back for me.” She smiled at him. “Their kindness has reminded me how very much God loves and cares for us.”

And with that, his mom slipped the necklace over her head and gave Derek a

big hug.

-Laura Kuehn

How About You?

Do you know that, if you trust in Jesus, you have been redeemed—bought back from sin and death? When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for your sins so you would never have to. If you have not accepted Jesus’s payment for your sins, you can do so right now. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.) You are a special treasure to God and were worth the cost.

Today’s Key Verse:
Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus died for you