“Say, Mister, your catcher has just got my dog,” exclaimed Jim to the pound keeper. The boy was almost out of breath from running. “And he’s a good dog,” he added.
Even as he spoke the dog catcher arrived, and they heard the rear door of the pound open. Soon they saw several dogs being shoved into the pen.
“That’s him!” cried Jim. “That one over in the corner.”
“Well,” said the keeper, “I expect the trouble is he hasn’t a license, or somethin'.”
Poor Jim hung his head and confessed that it was so.
“He’ll have to have one before we can let him out of here,” said the keeper.
“How much does one cost?” asked Jim, as he fingered two quarters in his pocket.
“A dollar fifty” replied the keeper.
“Any work I could do around here, so I could earn the money?” queried Jim hopefully.
“No, I’m afraid not, son. You might try the food store on the corner.”
That afternoon Jim reappeared at the pound and handed the keeper $1.50. Moments later the gate to the dog pen opened, and a joyful pup, wiggling and twisting all over and barking with excitement, was in Jim’s arms.
On the way home Jim paused and taking his pup in his arms he said, “Pup, you’re twice mine now! You were mine the day Dad gave you to me; but then I lost you, and I’ve had to buy you back. So you’re twice mine now!”
And so it is with all of us. The Lord Jesus, our Creator, made us and gave us life in this world. But we were lost through the fall. He had to come to redeem us-to buy us back, and this He did at the cost of His own precious blood on the cross, for He loved us so. If we have trusted Him as our Saviour, then we are saved. We belong to Him, never to be lost again, for He gives us eternal life; we shall never perish, for no one shall ever pluck us out of His hand. (John 10:27-3127My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one. 31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. (John 10:27‑31).)
Dear young friends, can you say, “I am twice His, for He has redeemed me "?
All Blotted Out
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isa. 44:2222I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22)
ML-12/26/1976