Ruthie had just been given 35¢. This was a lot of money for a 7-year-old, and she wanted to buy something very special. As she walked down the street, she saw a fruit stand with a sign that read:
RIPE WATERMELONS
35 ¢ / LB.
Yum, yum! ... just right on a hot day, she thought. “I’ll take that one,” she told the owner, pointing to a big one. He placed it on the scale—8½ lbs. “That will be $2.97,” he told her.
Ruthie held out her 35¢. “This is all I have ... I didn’t know it cost so much,” and she was about to cry.
The owner showed her a very small one growing in his field behind the fruit stand. “I’ll take 35¢ for that one,” he told her.
Ruthie said, “Okay, I’ll take it.”
Buying that watermelon was going to cost Ruthie every penny she had. And Jesus knew that redeeming sinners from their sins was going to cost Him everything He had. He paid for our salvation with His own blood—He gave up His life for you and me.
Ruthie paid her 35¢ and started home. The owner called to her, “Wait! You didn’t take your watermelon.”
Ruthie replied, “It’s not ripe yet. It must grow some more. I’ll come back again and take it home.” So off she went while her watermelon remained attached to the vine, growing—through day and night, sunshine and rain.
Ruthie came to check it often. Soon it was ready to take home to enjoy.
Read your Bible, pray every day,
And you’ll grow, grow, grow.
When the time is exactly right, Jesus will come again and take home to heaven all those He has bought with His blood. Will that include you?
ML-09/23/2012