FEBRUARY 2, 2 Corinthians 6:2

Charlie pulled a brightly colored paper from his pocket. “What’s this?”, he thought. “Oh-h-h! It’s my coupon for a free candy bar. I forgot all about it!” He had cut the coupon out of the newspaper several days earlier. Eager now to get the candy, he hurried to the store.

After carefully considering what he should get, Charlie picked up a candy bar, and handed the coupon to the sales clerk.

The clerk smiled at Charlie and looked at the coupon. “Oh, I’m sorry, but this coupon isn’t good any more,” she said. Disappointed, he put the candy back.

On the way home, Charlie stopped at his grandmother’s house and told her about the expired coupon. “Too bad you didn’t cash it in before,” sympathised Grandma, “but why don’t you sit down and have some icecream with me?” As she handed him a scoop, she said, “Your experience reminds me of a story I read called ‘Now Is the Time.’ It’s about a young man who often hears an invitation to be saved, but he always puts off making a decision. At first he said he was too young, then he was too busy… and then he died in an accident. As far as anyone knows, he never did receive Christ as his Saviour.”

“That’s sad,” said Charlie.

“It certainly is,” Grandma agreed solemnly. She looked intently at her grandson. “What about you, Charlie?” she asked. “You waited too long to cash in the coupon for a free candy bar. What have you done about cashing in on God’s offer for salvation?”

“Well, I…I….” Charlie suddenly realised that, just like the young man in the story, he had been putting off the decision to accept Jesus, and he did not know when God’s offer might “expire” for him. That afternoon, as he and Grandma knelt beside the sofa, he asked Jesus to be his Saviour.

Thought: Have you been putting off your decision for Christ? There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to receive Him later. Accept God’s gift of salvation before the opportunity “expires” –before it’s too late. Receive Jesus today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me so much time to consider your gift of salvation. I know I have put off my decision to accept Jesus for too long and today, I want to humble myself before you and acknowledge that without Jesus, I will be lost for eternity. I now accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!