Morning Devotional:
The Lost and Found Laptop: A Lesson in Grace
“Over $300?! I almost choked on my coffee when I saw the email from the high school: ‘Outstanding balance on Malachi’s account.’ My mind raced. What on earth could it be? After some digging, I discovered the culprit: a missing school laptop.
It turned out Malachi’s original laptop developed a glitch. While it was being repaired, he received a temporary replacement. The First Laptop was fixed and returned to him, and then we received a bill for the replacement Laptop 300.
Panic seized me. ‘Absolutely not!’ I declared. Malachi had diligently tried to turn in the laptop, bombarding the media center with inquiries. Finally, his efforts paid off. He turned everything in. Relief washed over me, only to be replaced by another email: ‘Unpaid laptop balance remains.’
Frustration bubbled up. ‘He turned it in!’ Malachi insisted. ‘I must have forgotten to document it.’ A trip to the media center confirmed his story. The bill vanished.
This whole ordeal, though stressful, became a powerful reminder of God’s grace. Just like the school bill, our sin debt is a burden we can’t shoulder alone. The wages of sin, as the Bible says, is death. We’re all missing laptops, wandering aimlessly with an unpayable price tag.
But here’s the good news: Jesus stepped in and paid our debt in full. He took on our burden, erasing the bill not just for me, but for everyone who believes in him. That’s the true meaning of Christmas: God’s unfathomable grace, freely offered to anyone who accepts it.
So this Christmas, let’s share this incredible message with the world. Let’s shout from the rooftops that the lost and found has been found, and the debt has been paid. Let’s spread the joy of God’s grace, one life at a time.”
-Ryan
The Burning Question:
Can you tell us about a Holiday act of kindness?
Bible Quiz:
Question: Who cooked an angel a meal that included a pot of Broth?
Answer: Gideon Judges 6:19
Storytime: Mercy had a Quandry!