Daily Devotional for November 15, 2019
Deserving to Die
“Mom!” wailed Evie as she ran into the house followed by her brother. “Josiah has a big, icky bug, and he’s chasing me with it! Make him kill it, Mom!”
Josiah was carrying a glass jar. Inside was a large horsefly. “Look, Evie!” he said, laughing. “This poor little horsefly is so unhappy in this jar. I’m going to set him free in your room. He’ll like it much better there!” He started toward Evie’s room.
Evie let out a piercing squeal. “Stop teasing your sister,” Mom told Josiah. “Take that thing outside and get rid of it.”
“Kill it!” Evie ordered.
“Aww, have a little mercy,” Josiah answered. “I’d just let it go, but it’s been bugging me while I work on my dribbling. I tried to chase it away, but it won’t leave me alone. I know! I’ll take it down the street and let it go there.”
“Don’t be silly!” said Evie, but Josiah headed outside. “Why would he go to all that trouble?” Evie asked. “I think he’s doing it just to tease me.”
“Maybe,” Mom said, “but maybe it’s just because Josiah has always hated to see anything hurt. You know how he is.”
Evie snorted. “Well, if that thing has been bugging him so much, it deserves to die. Saving the life of a big, icky bug that can bite you is going a bit too far, if you ask me.”
“You may be right,” said Mom. “On the other hand, I’m glad God doesn’t feel that way.” She smiled at Evie’s surprised expression. “In a way, that horsefly reminds me of us,” Mom explained. “We’re sinners who deserve to go to hell, but Jesus loves us and died for us. Like Josiah showed mercy to the fly, God shows mercy to us. He gives us the opportunity to have eternal life in Christ. I’m glad God is merciful, aren’t you?”
Thoughtfully, Evie nodded. “I’ve never compared myself to a big, icky bug before,” she admitted, “but I know I don’t deserve God’s mercy any more than that thing deserves Josiah’s. I guess it’s a good reminder of how thankful I should be for what Jesus did for me.” She crossed her arms. “But I still don’t want it in my room!” Hazel M. Marett
How about you?
Do you realize that you deserve to be punished for your sin? But God loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. Instead of receiving the eternal death you deserve, He offers eternal life. That’s mercy. Trust Jesus as your Savior today and be free from punishment. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)
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