The Free Gift

Bible Reading: John 3:14-17

“I can’t wait to choose a new book to buy with my birthday money!” Abigail said, her brown eyes sparkling as she and her mom walked toward Sheldon’s, a new children’s bookstore that was opening that day in town.

Outside the store, Abigail stared at the window display with a collection of

colorful new hardbacks and photographs of the authors. A crowd of people dashed passed them to the door. Abigail and Mom waited for them to go by before stepping inside. When they entered the store, a bell jangled and a man bustled toward them.

“Congratulations!” he said excitedly. “Welcome to Sheldon’s. I’m Mr. Sheldon, the owner. I’m pleased to announce that you’re our one hundredth customer today and will receive a free gift to celebrate our grand opening.”

“A free gift?” Abigail exclaimed. “I can’t believe it! If we hadn’t let all those other people pass, we wouldn’t have won.”

Mr. Sheldon handed her a small token. “With this prize token, you can choose five free books today and have a snack at our café.”

“Thank you,” Abigail said in disbelief. Mom nodded in agreement—she looked as stunned as Abigail.

They wandered all over the beautiful new store, browsing all the different books available before selecting five free ones.

“I never expected this at all,” Abigail said, biting into a delicious blueberry muffin at the café. “I can’t wait to tell everyone.”

“Me neither,” Mom agreed, sipping her coffee. “The owner was so kind.”

Later that evening, when Dad got home from work, Abigail told him the good news about her free gift.

“That is wonderful news,” said Dad. “It reminds me of another free gift—the amazing gift God has given to us. It seems too good to be true, but He has given us the free gift of salvation and eternal life through Jesus. We don’t deserve it and could do nothing to earn it, but God freely offers it to everyone because He loves us. We just have to accept it.”

As Abigail walked to her room to read one of her new books, she smiled and thanked God for the most precious gift of all—salvation through Jesus. • Cindy Lee

How About You?

Have you ever been surprised by a free gift? Maybe someone gave you a prize without you having to do anything to earn it. The good news is that God offers us the most precious gift of all—salvation and eternal life through His Son, Jesus. We don’t deserve it, but He gives it to us freely because He loves us. Accept His free gift today. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

God gives us salvation