Summary: "C'mon, Brittany," said Rick. "We need to take out the trash for Dad." "Okay," said Brittany, and together they hauled empty boxes and wastepaper out to the big bin behind their father's store. Rick lifted the trash bin cover, but he slammed it back down quickly. "Brittany, there's something in there," he gasped. "I saw it move!" Brittany laughed. "Yeah, right," she said. "You're just trying to scare me." "I'm not! I'm telling the truth," insisted Rick. He pulled up the lid again and poked at the rubbish with a stick. Hearing a loud moan, Brittany let out a scream as Rick dropped his stick and the trash bin cover. Dad rushed outside. "Iheard a scream. What's wrong?" he asked in alarm. "There's something in there," gasped Brittany, pointing to the trash bin. "Really?"Dad approached it and looked inside. "It's a puppy!" he exclaimed. He lifted the little dog from the bin. "How did you get in there, fella?" "A puppy! Cool! Can we take him home, Dad?" Rick begged. "Ugh!" Brittany made a face. "He smells! Mom won't want him in the house." "He's a mess," agreed Dad. "We'll get some doggy shampoo, and when we get home, you can give him a bath. We'll see if we can find him a home." When Mom saw the little animal, she hesitated at first, but then she took pity on him, too. "I think Ragamuffin would be a good name for him," she said. "Why?" Rick asked. "I never heard of that name." "It's a word that can be used to describe a tattered, shabby urchin," Mom explained as she looked at the wet, dirty pup. "Then let's not call him that!" protested Brittany. "It's not a nice name!" Mom smiled. "It seems to me it fits, but you can choose something else," she said. "In any case, he'll make a good illustration for my Sunday school lesson tomorrow. What you did for him, God did for us--and even more! Spiritually, we were like ragamuffins. God found us dirty, lost, and trapped in our sins. He reached down to rescue us. He loved us when there was nothing lovable about us." The puppy barked, and Brittany laughed. "He agrees with you, Mom. I think he's glad he's been rescued. But I'm going to think of a nicer name!" How About You? Does it offend you to be compared to a ragamuffin? Spiritually, that's what you're like without Jesus. But God loves you anyway. He sent Jesus to rescue you from the penalty of sin. Don't try to clean up yourself--you can't do it. You need to repent and trust Jesus as Savior. Have you done that? (See the ABCs of Salvation at the right.) Today's Key Verse: When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6) Today's Key Thought: Jesus loves sinners
