Daily Devotional for April 4, 2018
See Ya Later, Alligator
Jenny squealed and grabbed her mom as the tram stopped by a huge alligator in the Everglades. People around them stood to snap pictures of the beast sunning himself at the edge of the road.
Their guide told them some facts about alligators, and then the tram began to move. Jenny relaxed as the guide pointed out ibis, herons, and other native birds. She laughed at the funny sounds they made as they were startled by the tram and flew away.
Every time they came to an alligator, Jenny would tense up and grab her mom’s arm. Mom tried to assure her that they were perfectly safe. “Honey, you don’t have to be afraid. The alligators very seldom bother people. Just relax and enjoy being able to see such interesting creatures.”
“But Mom,” Jenny said, “they have so many teeth, and the guide said they move really fast sometimes. I’m scared. What if one climbs up here and eats me?”
Mom laughed. “Oh, Jenny, you don’t have to worry. The tram driver can speed away, and I won’t let a gator get up here. It would have to eat me first before it got to you.”
The tour guide began telling a story about a boy who fell into one of the canals. He landed on an alligator, and the animal grabbed him in its strong jaws. The boy’s mom jumped in and stuck her arm into the alligator’s mouth. It let go of the boy, and he was rushed to the hospital. He had broken ribs, and his mom had some cuts, but they were okay.
Mom patted Jenny’s arm. “That mom was willing to risk her life to save her child, and so am I. And that’s also what Jesus did for us. We were stuck in Satan’s grip because of our sin, but Jesus defeated Satan and saved us by giving His life for us on the cross. Satan may still try to hurt us by getting us to sin or making us feel guilty, but we don’t have to be afraid of him anymore. We’ve been set free.”
Jenny smiled. “Can we get a stuffed alligator today so I can remember what Jesus has done for us? Hey, there’s another alligator!” She leaned forward to get a closer look. – Robyn Mulder
How about you?
Have you ever seen a live alligator? Were you scared? Seeing a creature like that can be scary, but nothing is as scary as being in the grip of sin and Satan. That’s why Jesus came to earth and died—to pay the price for our sin so we can be saved and have eternal life with Him. When we trust in Him, we don’t have to be afraid of Satan. (To learn more, click the blue “Good News” button in the column to the right.)
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