The students in Mr. Rich’s fifth-grade class wanted to do something kind.
“That’s very nice,” said Mr. Rich, “but just what type of kind deed would you like to do?”
Several of the students had suggestions. Some were impractical, some were too expensive and some were too difficult. Then one of the students came up with another idea: “Maybe we could save an animal from the shelter for unwanted or stray pets.”
“Yes! Yes!” they all agreed. “It would be a good thing to save a puppy from being put to death just because no one wanted it. We could care for it and give it a home.”
Mr. Rich wasn’t sure how this would work out. He knew the father of one of his students was a veterinarian, so Mr. Rich called him to talk to him about what the class wanted to do.
“That’s very interesting,” said the father. “I have recently had a request from a nursing home that would like a pet for their residents. If your students are willing to adopt an animal for the nursing home, I’ll go to the animal shelter and see what I can find.”
When the vet visited the shelter, he found a cute little brown and white puppy. He took the puppy home with him for a few days. He wanted to see if it would be a suitable pet for older people. He quickly discovered the little dog had the qualities necessary for a nursing home pet. The puppy was energetic and friendly, lovable, but not yipping and yapping all the time.
You and I can understand that that puppy needed to be adopted; it needed a new home. Most of you children are cared for by someone who loves you, and maybe you don’t understand that, just like that homeless puppy, we still each need to be adopted too. We need to be adopted into God’s family. Because you and I are sinners, we face punishment for our sins. The Bible says, “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men [everyone], for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). But God has wonderful news for you and me. Even though we are sinners, God still loves us and wants to save us from that eternal punishment. He sent His beloved Son Jesus down to earth to pay all the expenses of adopting us. He died on the cross so that we could have our sins washed away. And when you and I let the Lord Jesus wash our sins away, we become His sons and daughters; we are adopted into His family. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon [given] us, that we should be called the sons [and daughters] of God” (1 John 3:11Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)).
The students loved the little puppy and named him Boo. Each one brought whatever money they could to pay for Boo’s license, food, dishes and whatever else he needed.
Finally the day came when Boo was to move to the nursing home. The happy students lugged in two 50pound bags of dog food, dog dishes, a bed and Boo himself and formally presented him to the residents. All the residents and the nurses loved Boo.
But the job wasn’t finished. Each year the children in Mr. Rich’s class would all go to visit Boo and the residents and to present them with additional food and anything more that Boo needed. He was a happy dog and brought a lot of joy to a lot of people in that nursing home for many years.
And how thankful you and I can be that once we become part of God’s family by having our sins washed away, not only will we be very happy, but He will provide everything we need in this life here on earth and also for our future happiness in heaven. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)). “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:1919But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)).
Will you let the Lord Jesus wash your sins away so that you can become part of God’s happy, adopted family?
ML-05/17/1998