MAY 1, Romans 6:23

“Hey, Mom!” exclaimed Abby. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a doctor like the one in this book I just finished reading! Instead of making people come to his office when they were sick, he went to their houses.”

Mom smiled. “That’s the way it was done a long time ago-before I was born,” she said.

“Dr. Lim was a medical missionary,” said Abby. “He worked in an African village where they didn’t have a doctor. This book tells about a girl he helped. She was my age, and she was really sick. Her family was very poor. They didn’t have money to pay for a doctor, but Dr. Lim took care of her anyway, and got food for her family too. He said they didn’t have to pay for anything. It was all free!”

Abby’s brother, Tom, looked up. “Free? Hey, you’re right, we should have a doctor like that!” he said with a grin, and Abby laughed along.

“I don’t get this next part though,” said Abby. “The girl’s mother said it was good that not everybody in that village was sick, because most doctors refused to treat people who couldn’t afford to pay the fees. Dr. Lim, however, told her that everybody actually is sick - sick with sin. He said they needed something to make them well spiritually, but there was no way they could buy what they needed.” Abby paused. “I don’t really get what it means to be sick with sin,” she added.

“Well, I would think he meant that everyone is born a sinner and can’t help doing wrong things,” Mom explained. “It’s like they have a sickness that won’t go away. Nothing they do or buy will take away the disease of sin. Only God can do that, and His remedy for sin is free for the asking.”

Tom nodded. “I get it!” he said. “We can never pay for our sins, but when we believe in Jesus and ask Him to forgive us, He does. It’s a gift.” “Oh!” Abby exclaimed. “Just like the doctor’s treatment of that little girl was a gift. Without it, she would never have gotten healthy on her own.”

“Exactly!” Mom agreed with a smile. “And speaking of getting healthy, we’re having chicken soup for dinner, so you’d better go wash your hands!”

Thought: Do you want to be forgiven of your sin?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know that nothing I can do will ever be enough to pay for my sins. Thank You that Jesus has paid the price for my sins. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.