Band Member (Part 1)

"Mom!" Zane called as he came into the house. "Guess what? Even though we moved here in the middle of the school year, I can join the band! Mr. Liu, the band leader, says the school has instruments the kids can use, so I'm going to be in the band and play a trumpet.""That's great!" said Mom. "I'm glad that worked out for you. When do you start?""Tomorrow," replied Zane. "I'll get my trumpet and officially belong to the middle school band!"When Dad heard the big news, he grinned. "So, you finally get to play in a band!" he said, knowing Zane had been disappointed his old school didn't have one.But Matilda, Zane's little sister, frowned. "I want to be in the band too," she declared."You can't. You're too small," Zane told her."I can too," she insisted. "All you need is an instrument, and I already have one!" She held up a toy horn she'd been playing with. "And you have to be big enough," added Zane.Dad smiled at Matilda. "Zane is right, honey. It will be a few years before you're old enough to play in the school band."Matilda looked unhappy. "Can I join a different band then?""Well, let's see," said Dad. He snapped his fingers. "I got it! I know of a band anyone can join." Matilda smiled at that news, but Zane looked doubtful. "It's not a musical band--it's a different kind of band," said Dad. "It's the band of believers--a group of Christians called the church. Do you know what you need to become a member of that band?""I do," said Zane. "You need Jesus."Dad nodded. "Right. And anyone can become a member, no matter how old they are. When we join God's band of believers, all our sins are forgiven and we become part of God's kingdom forever. He also gives each of us a part to play in helping the world hear about Jesus.""Kind of like how everyone in a musical band works together to play a song," Zane observed.Matilda grinned. "See, Zane? I'm big enough to be in a band too--and I'm already in one because I've trusted Jesus to save me!"-Hazel W. Marett