Four Pennies Or A Dollar

Four Pennies or a Dollar

1 Peter 1:18-21

Jill and Jackie tagged along with Jacob to the toy store. While Jacob looked at model trains, the girls walked away toward an aisle lined with stuffed animals. After a few minutes, Jacob felt a tug on his jeans. Little Jill stood there hugging two stuffed bears.

“Jill wants this one,” she said, holding up the biggest one. Walking to the counter, she held up the bear along with four pennies. “Here’s money for my bear,” she said.

“I’m sorry, but that won’t buy this bear,” said the clerk. “Do you have any more money?” Jacob watched as Jill shook her head.

Six-year-old Jackie spoke up as she joined her sister at the counter. “I have a dollar. Is that enough?” she asked.

When the clerk shook her head, Jill and Jackie ran back to Jacob. With tears in her eyes, Jill told him about the bear. “Please,” she pleaded, “will you buy it for me?”

Jacob couldn’t help but smile. “Well, okay,” he agreed. “I was going to buy you a birthday present anyway.”

At dinner that night, Jill told everyone how Jacob bought the bear for her. “I couldn’t pay for it,” she repeated. “Jackie couldn’t pay for it, either.”

“I came closer than you,” Jackie put in.

“Only Jacob could pay for it,” Jill looked adoringly at her big brother. “He bought my bear for me.”

Grandma Connie smiled. “That makes a good lesson,” she said. “Some people do a few good things, and they think that will be enough to save them. Others might do more. But the Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Just as neither of you girls had enough money to buy the bear, no one is ever good enough to buy salvation.”

“Jesus paid for our salvation by dying on the cross, didn’t he?” asked Jacob.

“Yes,” agreed Grandma. “Only Jesus could do that, because he never sinned. Even though the rest of us have sinned, he ‘bought’ our salvation with his precious blood. All we need to do is tell him we accept his free gift.” MRP

How about You?

Do you think the good things you do will buy eternal life? No matter how good we may be, our goodness will never be enough to buy salvation. Salvation is a free gift, purchased for us by Jesus with his blood. Trust him to save you, and receive your free gift now!

Memorize:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Salvation Is God’s Gift