Wooden Nickels 

By Toni Babcock

Call it pride or self-sufficiency, but getting something for nothing when we know we don’t deserve it just doesn't seem right from our human perspective, so we tend to automatically reach into our spiritual pockets for some kind of currency to pay God for His grace until we discover it is of no use, we may as well be offering him a wooden nickel. 

We will never learn to rest in Jesus when we are striving to impress God with "wooden nickels". The prophet Isaiah wrote “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6 KJV) The Bible confirms what we should already know; “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 KJV)

God’s invitation comes freely to everyone who thirsts for Him. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat…” “Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you...” (Isaiah 55:1 & 3 KJV). This is a saving grace that cannot be bought. It is possible and realized when we believe the good news of salvation, turning from ourselves and our wooden nickels to Jesus Christ.

Today’s freelance Christian writer is the author of the Stone Writer. For a limited time her book can be read for FREE in exchange for a simple book review. Contact