Mack The Monkey
MACK THE MONKEY
Read Romans 3:10-12, 20-22.
Patti listened eagerly as Mr. Dan began to talk. “I’m glad to be here,” said Mr. Dan, “and now I’d like to ask my friend Mack to join me on the platform.” For the first time, Patti noticed a brown hairy puppet hanging by its arms from the piano. “Come here, Mack,” called Mr. Dan, but Mack didn’t move. “Well, I guess Mack is going to be uncooperative,” said Mr. Dan. “I think I know what I need to do. I need to snap my fingers, let go, and Mack will spring to life.” When Mr. Dan did this, Mack just ended up in a pile on the floor. The children laughed.
Finally Mr. Dan looked at the boys and girls in the front row, where Patti was sitting. “What does Mack need?” he asked them.
Patti’s hand shot into the air. “You have to put your hand inside and make him move,” she said when Mr. Dan pointed to her.
“You are absolutely right,” agreed Mr. Dan. “I could talk to Mack from now until it’s time to go home, and he still wouldn’t move. Without me, Mack can do nothing.” He paused for a moment. “Did you know that the same is true of people? Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Apart from me you can do nothing.’ We can’t get to heaven by ourselves. And we can’t live the Christian life by ourselves.”
Patti listened carefully to the rest of Mr. Dan’s presentation. I need to find out more about becoming a Christian, she thought.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? If not, talk to a trusted Christian friend or adult to find out more.
TO MEMORIZE:
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
YOU NEED JESUS.
From the book
