Bible Reading: Romans 6:5-11

Evan and James were hunting for wild edible mushrooms with their family. "Got one!" Evan yelled.

"Wow, that one's a whopper!" James said.

"Just make sure you know it's the right type," Dad warned. "You know the rule: One hundred percent sure, then take the treasure."

They mushroom-hunted for a couple hours, driven by the hope of mushroom soup. "My mouth is already watering for mom's delicious soup!" Evan said.

"Yeah!" James replied. "Mom is probably the best cook in town!"

"I don't know about that," Mom said. "There are lots of good cooks out there."

"Well, you're still a really good cook!" Evan and James said in unison, making the whole family laugh.

After heading home, the two boys stood outside the kitchen, breathing in the wonderful smells. When the soup was done, the boys raced to be the first to the table. After giving thanks, they gulped it down.

"This soup could be called new life soup," Dad said. "The mushrooms in it grow on dead wood. Though the tree has died, the mushrooms come alive by feeding on the nutrients in the wood. They're an example of death leading to new life."

"Wow!" Evan said. "I didn't know that mushrooms grow on dead things."

"I know of something else that has new life too," Mom said. "Can you guys guess what it is?"

"A caterpillar turning into a butterfly?" James guessed.

"Snakes getting new skin?" Evan added.

"Good guesses, but I was thinking of something else," Mom replied. "Me!"

"You?" James asked. "How do you have new life?"

"You two can have it too!" said Mom. "It comes from Jesus, our Savior. The Bible says every one of us is a sinner. When we confess our sins and trust Jesus to save us, our old, sinful self dies, and He gives us new life with Him!"

"Wow!" James said. "That's even cooler than mushrooms growing on dead logs."

"Yeah," Evan agreed. "I want to ask Jesus to give me new life right now!"

"Me too!" James said.

Mom smiled at them and said, "Let's read some verses together and pray."

–Elijah Goll