JANUARY 10, Acts 26:28

“May I run the food processor to chop the zucchini?” asked Lisa. She was helping her mother make zucchini bread. “Sure,” agreed Mother. “Just be careful.”

Mum and Lisa were trying out what they saw on the Asian Food Channel, and they were both quite excited to try making zucchini bread for the first time.

Lisa got out the food processor, put some of the zucchini in it, and turned it on. She waited, but it didn’t run. “Mom, what is wrong with this thing?” asked Lisa.

Mother looked at the appliance. “The container has to be placed in exactly the right spot or the machine won’t work,” she said. “You should hear it snap into place.” She demonstrated what she meant.

After Lisa finished the chopping, the rest of the items were mixed quickly. Lisa brushed the pans with butter, and Mom poured the batter into them. Then they put the loaves in the oven and began to clean the kitchen. “Naughty old food processor,” complained Lisa as she washed the container. “It won’t go unless it’s just so.” Lisa laughed. “Hey! I’m a poet and didn’t know it.”

Mother smiled.“Your episode with the food processor made me think of the Apostle Paul and King Agrippa,” she said.

“It did? Why would it make you think of them?” asked Lisa.

“Do you remember the account of Paul and King Agrippa?” asked Mother ( Read Acts 26:1-29 ). Lisa nodded. “Well, you had the foodprocessor set up almost right – and when Paul witnessed to King Agrippa, the king was almost persuaded to believe,” explained Mother. “Almost right wasn’t enough to make the food processor work, and almost persuaded isn’t enough for salvation.”

Thought: Are you like people who admit that the Bible might be right – but do not commit yourself to believe in Jesus?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I accept You as Lord and Saviour of my life. I know almost believing is not good enough. Teach me to trust in Your Holy Word, and to commit my life to You so that I may be able to experience real joy every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.