Salvation is Free

TITLE: Really Free?
SCRIPTURE: Read: Ephesians 2:4-9
AUDIO: listen here
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
As Dylan sat down at the kitchen table to eat lunch, an advertisement on the bread wrapper caught his attention. "Free gift!" he read. "Skipper Sam Race Boat! See details on bottom of package." Dylan turned the loaf of bread so he could see the bottom. "Mom, look!" he exclaimed. "I can get a Skipper Sam Race Boat for absolutely nothing. I saw how much those boats cost at the store-twelve dollars!"
"Let me see that package," said Mom. "That offer sounds too good to be true." She studied the information about the boat. "Dylan, did you notice what you need to send in with this order form?" she asked.
"Ah . . . I think you have to send three proof of purchase tags," said Dylan.
Mom nodded. "Three proof of purchase tags from what?" she asked.
"From . . . let's see." Dylan reached for the bread. "From Skipper Sam Race Boats . . . hey!" He interrupted himself. "That means I'd have to buy three boats just to get one for free. That's thirty-six dollars!" Disappointed, Dylan pushed the loaf of bread away.
"When something is offered for free in cases like this, there's often something to buy first or some other requirement you have to meet," said Mom.
Dylan sighed. "I guess people have it right when they say if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
"Well," said Mom as she sat down at the table with Dylan, "that generally is the case. I do know of one offer, though, that also sounds too good to be true, but the gift that's offered really is free."
"It is?" asked Dylan eagerly. "What is it? Have you gotten it already?"
"Yes, I have. It's the gift of salvation-the gift of eternal life instead of eternal punishment," Mom replied with a smile. "It's free to anyone who will accept Jesus as Savior."
Dylan grinned. "I guess I should have thought of that," he said. "I've already done that and gotten the gift, too!"
"It's a gift everyone can have," Mom added. "Now . . . let's thank the Lord for our lunch and for His free gift of eternal life."
MEMORY VERSE: The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you like gifts? A gift is something that's free-you can't earn it or buy it. But you do need to accept it. Jesus offers the gift of eternal life-He paid the price for it. Have you accepted it? When you trust Jesus as Savior, you are accepting the gift He offers. It's the only way you can get it. Why not trust Him today? (See the ABCs at the end of this book.)
THE KEY: Salvation is free