This story won’t leave you indifferent…

I once read the story of a little boy who was constantly late coming home from school. One day, his parents warned him that he had to be home on time…yet, he came home even later than usual. At dinner that evening, the boy looked at his plate. He had only a slice of bread and a glass of water for his meal. He looked at his father’s full plate, then at his father, but his father remained silent. The boy was crushed.

The father waited for the child to understand the consequences of his mistake, then he calmly took the boy’s plate and placed it in front of himself. Then, he took his own plate filled with meat and potatoes, put it in front of the child, and smiled at him. This little boy grew to become a man. Today, he says, “What my father did that evening allowed me to understand how God is.”

This story is a beautiful illustration of “redemption.” This word comes from the Greek word “apolutrosis,” which means “a release following the payment of a ransom.” In our story, the father pays the price by denying himself his delicious meal in order to give it to his son. In the same way, because of our repeated disobedience, Jesus pays the price by denying His own glory in order to give it to us by taking our misery and sin upon Himself. (the Bible, Romans 3:23-24)

Jesus loved you so much, that He bore all your sins! And in return, you have the assurance of His forgiveness and blessing.

P.S. Today’s text is freely inspired, with permission, by a book I highly recommend, Émerveillé par l’amour de Dieu, by David Nolent, director of TopChrétien.