Saving the Tadpoles
This devotional was written by Leslie Snyder
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:8
There is a story of a man who was walking down a dirt road. It had been a rainy week, but with the sun overhead, it was now hot and steamy. Small pools of water remained in the grooves of the dirt road, but most were evaporating quickly. The man’s attention was drawn to a small pool of water. In it were hundreds of tadpoles furiously fighting for life.
Overcome by compassion, he looked around for something to put them into. He found a small container and scooped out as many as he could with the intention of transferring them into a nearby pond. Satisfied with his plan, he headed toward the pond. On the way, however, he stumbled, fell and dropped the container with its precious cargo. The tadpoles spilled onto the ground, wiggled in the dirt and died.
This story isn’t too far from our own. God saw us struggling, fighting furiously for life, dying in our sins. Unless someone had enough compassion to free us, there was no hope for escape. Freedom came in the hands of Jesus. His invitation to follow Him, trust Him and believe in Him would bring salvation. And unlike the story of the man and the tadpoles, we can trust Jesus to hold us close to His heart and never fear an unfortunate ending.
2 Peter 3:8 reminds us of the fact that the Lord is patient and His desire is that no one will die in their sins. His desire is that all will come to repentance. Are there people in your life who need to hear this promise? Maybe you’ve stopped praying for someone who seems out of God’s reach. Be encouraged. God is faithful and His timing is sure. Be diligent, pray daily, and trust God to fulfill His word.
GOING DEEPER:
Make a list of 5 people who need Jesus. Pray for them daily and for opportunities to share the truth of God’s love with them.
FURTHER READING:
John 3:16; Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:8
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