Daily Devotional for December 13, 2018
Paid Fines
Kristen bounded up to the library’s front desk with a book. She proudly presented her library card and watched as the librarian scanned it. But to Kristen’s surprise, the librarian frowned and handed the card back to her.
“I’m sorry, but the book you returned last week was overdue, and you can’t check any more books out until the fines on your card are paid.”
“Oh.” Kristen gazed longingly at the book on the counter. “Could you hold this book for me? I’ll be right back.”
Kristen dashed to the children’s section, where her mother was reading to her little sister, Emily. “Mom! Mom! Can I please have some money?”
“What do you need it for?” Mom asked, setting Emily’s book aside.
“My library card has fines on it, so I can’t check out any books until I pay. Please?” She nervously glanced at the front desk to make sure no one was trying to take the book she wanted. Mom handed her some money, and Kristen skipped off to check out her book.
On the way home, Mom looked over at Kristen, whose nose was buried in her book. “Are you enjoying that book?” she asked.
Kristen set the book down and smiled. “Yes! I’m so glad I could get it. Thanks for paying the fine, Mom.”
“You’re welcome. You know, the situation with your library card kind of reminds me of how Jesus saved us.”
“Huh?” Kristen replied, confused.
“Well, you couldn’t check out that book unless the fine was paid,” Mom explained as she pulled the car into the driveway. “And like your library card, each of us has our own fines that need to be paid too—our sin. Without Jesus dying on the cross for us, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy a relationship with Him and have eternal life.”
“Just like how I couldn’t enjoy this book if my library fines weren’t paid,” Kristen said.
“Right,” Mom said as she helped Emily out of the car. “We didn’t deserve Jesus’s sacrifice, but because He loves us, He was willing to pay the price.”
Kristen looked down at her book and smiled. Now, whenever I go to the library, I’ll remember how Jesus paid the fines for my sin. – Taylor Carey
How about you?
Have you ever had to pay a price to settle a debt, like fines on a library card? When Jesus died for us on the cross, He paid the debt for our sin and made the way for us to become God’s children, even though we didn’t deserve it. We can’t earn salvation on our own. Trust Jesus to pay the price for your sin. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)
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