RUNAWAY RALPHThe boy was out of breath when he rushed through the door of the animal shelter. “Ralph!” he cried. “Is my dog here? He started chasing after something when we were taking a walk, and I couldn’t keep up with him.”The manager offered to show the young man and his dad through the area where the dogs were kept, and the boy anxiously looked into every cage until, at last, his heart leaped with joy and he yelled, “Here’s Ralph! He’s alive!”The manager explained that a fee would have to be paid before Ralph would be allowed to go home. The boy had been working very hard, saving money for something he wanted to buy. But because Ralph was his responsibility, and because he loved him so much, he gladly went home and emptied his bank.The boy returned to the shelter and carefully put his money on the counter. “Here it is, ma’am. Every penny.” Before long, the paperwork was in order and Ralph was free. On the way home, the boy said: “Now you’re doubly mine! You were mine when you were a pup, and now I’ve paid for you, too. And I’m never letting you go.”YOU ARE LOVEDThis story illustrates the love Jesus has for us. Because He is the Creator, we rightfully belong to Him. However, like Ralph, we often spend our lives chasing things that lead us further and further away from God. Just as Ralph could not free himself from his cage, we are all bound by sin: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).But because Jesus loves us, He came from Heaven and willingly went to Calvary’s cross. Jesus bore the punishment for our sins and died, paying the price so that we can go free (1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 6:20). He then rose from the dead and went back to Heaven (Acts 1:1-11).The price has already been paid; all that’s left for you to do is come to Him. This means that you need to stop running away from Him. Stop pretending that He does not exist or that He does not care about you. Turn to Him, believing that He died for you and rose again. You cannot free yourself from your cage of sin. Trust Christ to take away your sins and set you free.Those of us who love Jesus and have accepted Him as our Savior can say we are doubly His!Are you doubly His?Hear God speaking to you as you read the following verses from the Bible. Confess to Him that you are a hopeless sinner, and trust Jesus as your Savior. Then you will know what it is to be “doubly His”—a true child of God. He will be your greatest Friend for the rest of your life, and when your life on earth is over He will take you home to be with Him in Heaven forever.“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life…. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:16,36).“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
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