Devotion | January 18, 2018

January - 18 - Thursday

Thus says the LORD …, who formed you, o Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. 
Isaiah 43:1

Bernard lived near a river. One day he decided to construct a small model sailing boat that would sail properly in the water. He carried out his plan. After a few days the model was finished. How proud he was when the boat he had built himself was sailing down the river! But suddenly the thin string broke that he was pulling the boat with, and the current took it well out of his reach. The boat was lost!

How astonished he was, however, when a few days later he saw his boat, not by the river but on display in the window of a second-hand shop. Bernard immediately entered the shop and explained to the shopkeeper breathlessly: “That boat in the window belongs to me!” The man answered, “I had to pay to buy that boat. If you want it, you must pay for it like anyone else.” The boy went home broken-hearted.

Then he had the sudden idea: “Of course, I can buy it back!” He counted his savings. They were just sufficient to pay for it. He went back to the shop and purchased his boat. When he had it back in his hands, he pressed it against him and whispered, “Now you belong to me again!”

This is what has happened to everyone who believes in Christ. As our Creator, God has a right to every person. But through sin the relationship was destroyed. We were hopelessly lost. But the Son of God came into the world and gave His life as a ransom for us to redeem us and have us for Himself in His glory for all eternity.