By the blood of Jesus, I am delivered from the hand of the devil.

Here is the parable that I told a group of Polynesian Maori, who are excellent wood carvers, to illustrate the price paid by Jesus to redeem us from our sins.

Once upon a time there was a boy who was carving a beautiful little wooden sailboat. One day ; he took her to the ocean to make him sail, but the wind changed and carried her off. Since he could not get his boat back, he returned home empty-handed.

The next big wave brought the boat back and it was found by a man walking along the beach. He inspected the boat and found that it was beautifully carved, so he sold it to a store where it was cleaned and put on display with a sale price.

Some time later, the boy passed the shop and saw his boat. He knew immediately that it was his, but he had no way to prove it. So he knew that if he wanted to get it back he would have to buy it.

He started working to earn money, washing cars, mowing lawns and a lot of other small jobs. When he had accumulated the necessary amount, he went to the store and bought his boat. He took it in his hands and, holding it tight against him, he said : "Now you are mine! I made you and I bought you."

Imagine that you are this boat. You may feel unfit and useless, and wonder if God really cares. But the Lord says to you : "Now you are doubly mine, I have made you and I have redeemed you, you are entirely mine."

Prayer of the day :

Thank you Lord for the blood of Jesus. I proclaim that the Lord has made me and redeemed me ; and I am entirely his. By the blood of Jesus, I am delivered from the hand of the devil. Amen.

Derek Prince