Mr. Shooks worked in a hardware store in a small town. He loved children and knew nearly all the little folks that came into the store.
He soon noticed that little Bobby was coming in unusually often. He would stand on his tip toes and take down a toy truck and examine it very carefully. There were many other toy trucks there, but Bobby always looked at the same one. Then he would put it back in its place, turn and walk thoughtfully out of the store.
Then one day Bobby bounded into the store and went straight to the toy trucks. He reached for his chosen one, then skipped to the counter where Mr. Shooks stood watching him. Joyfully Bobby placed the truck on the counter and then laid a white handkerchief beside it with some money tied tightly inside. Mr. Shooks untied the knots and carefully counted out the change. But he had to tell Bobby that he didn’t have quite enough. He needed ten cents more.
Poor little Bobby. The tears came to his eyes as he said, “I’ve been saving all my money to buy that truck for my little brother. He would like so much to have it and I thought I had enough.” Mr. Shooks felt sorry for the little fellow, and reaching into his own pocket he pulled out ten cents and laid it with Bobby’s money. There, now there was enough.
“Oh thank you, Mr. Shooks. Thank you so much!” he exclaimed. So saying, he picked up the truck and skipped gaily out of the store.
Bobby was only ten cents short, but still he was short. And the Bible tells us, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
It didn’t cost Mr. Shooks much to reach in his pocket and pull out that bit of money, but it cost God a great deal to save you and me from our sins. It cost Him His beloved Son. Bobby could pay part of the price of his toy truck, but we could not pay anything on our debt of sin. Bobby might have been able to save up ten cents more if he had tried a little harder, but we can’t save up good deeds to pay our sins’ debt, for God says even our best is but filthy rags to Him. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isah 64:6. It is only by His grace that we can be saved.
ML 08/16/1959