THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Flying Lessons
By Jay Christian
March 8th, 2026
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Ever since little Jonny could remember, he’d loved airplanes. He built models of every kind from kits of plastic or balsa wood. But they all had one thing in common: after he finished them, they just sat on a shelf or hung from his bedroom ceiling.
Then, when he was ten years old, he discovered small, ready-made plastic airplanes with real engines; and they could fly! Two thin strings went through the main wing to someone holding a U-shaped handle, and through those strings, the airplane could be controlled as it flew in a circle around the “pilot.”
Little Jonny got one—a model of a P-40 Flying Tiger flown in World War II. Filled with anticipation, he took the plane to the Little League field where the other kids flew their airplanes.
There were many airplanes flying in circles above the heads of experienced fliers. Some were even flying acrobatics, or were in “dog fights.” He selected his spot, set the plane down, and ran the control strings out taut. He knelt down, put gas in the small gas tank, and connected the spring starter. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… the engine immediately sprang to life.
Excited, Jonny ran to the control handle and tilted his hand back so it would take off. Up it flew, over the top of his head in a long arc. And then… down it went! He heard a thud as the plane crashed, bouncing as it hit the ground. It was made of strong and flexible plastic, so it survived unscathed. But the mishap did not go unnoticed by the other fliers, and a few of them laughed and gathered to watch the next attempt. Now Jonny had an audience!
Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… up it shot again, over the top of his head in a long arc—and then, thud. Jonny’s audience offered their assessment: “Ha, ha, ha! Jonny can’t fly his airplane. Ha, ha, ha!”
Embarrassed, he tried again, but the result was the same. Thud went the airplane, and “ha, ha, ha!” cried the now even larger crowd.
Stupid airplane, Jonny thought, and I’m worthless because I can’t fly it! With stooped shoulders, he picked up his airplane and trudged home to a cacophony of laughter. When he got there, he set it down and never tried to fly it again.
Now Jonny was just Jon, fully grown and stationed in Korea. As he walked across the army base softball field, he heard Rrrrrrrrrrrrr coming from the diamond. One of his fellow soldiers was flying—or attempting to fly a model airplane! Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… thud.
“That brings back memories!” Jon said, only this guy wasn’t giving up. A crowd gathered and laughed, but the soldier didn’t seem to notice. He just tried again and again! With practice, he became an accomplished flier, and the laughter faded and then stopped. Impressed, Jon thought, I wonder if I should try again?
He bought an airplane and, after nine years, the result was the same. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… thud. Then laughter. However, inspired by the other soldier who didn’t give up, Jon attempted it again and it stayed in the air a little longer. Again and again Jon tried, until he could fly the plane. The laughter faded. He had succeeded!
As he bent down to refuel his plane, Jon realized that all too often, we allow other people’s opinions of us to shape our self-worth. If others think we can do something well, we believe we have value; but if not, then we feel we have no value. However, John 3:16 tells us that Jesus gave His life so we could live with Him forever. Jesus showed us that we are valuable to Him—and His opinion is the only one that counts!
Jon gave the propeller a quick flip and the small engine roared to life. Then, with new confidence, he guided the small model airplane heavenward.
Flying Lessons
By Jay Christian
March 8th, 2026
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Ever since little Jonny could remember, he’d loved airplanes. He built models of every kind from kits of plastic or balsa wood. But they all had one thing in common: after he finished them, they just sat on a shelf or hung from his bedroom ceiling.
Then, when he was ten years old, he discovered small, ready-made plastic airplanes with real engines; and they could fly! Two thin strings went through the main wing to someone holding a U-shaped handle, and through those strings, the airplane could be controlled as it flew in a circle around the “pilot.”
Little Jonny got one—a model of a P-40 Flying Tiger flown in World War II. Filled with anticipation, he took the plane to the Little League field where the other kids flew their airplanes.
There were many airplanes flying in circles above the heads of experienced fliers. Some were even flying acrobatics, or were in “dog fights.” He selected his spot, set the plane down, and ran the control strings out taut. He knelt down, put gas in the small gas tank, and connected the spring starter. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… the engine immediately sprang to life.
Excited, Jonny ran to the control handle and tilted his hand back so it would take off. Up it flew, over the top of his head in a long arc. And then… down it went! He heard a thud as the plane crashed, bouncing as it hit the ground. It was made of strong and flexible plastic, so it survived unscathed. But the mishap did not go unnoticed by the other fliers, and a few of them laughed and gathered to watch the next attempt. Now Jonny had an audience!
Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… up it shot again, over the top of his head in a long arc—and then, thud. Jonny’s audience offered their assessment: “Ha, ha, ha! Jonny can’t fly his airplane. Ha, ha, ha!”
Embarrassed, he tried again, but the result was the same. Thud went the airplane, and “ha, ha, ha!” cried the now even larger crowd.
Stupid airplane, Jonny thought, and I’m worthless because I can’t fly it! With stooped shoulders, he picked up his airplane and trudged home to a cacophony of laughter. When he got there, he set it down and never tried to fly it again.
Now Jonny was just Jon, fully grown and stationed in Korea. As he walked across the army base softball field, he heard Rrrrrrrrrrrrr coming from the diamond. One of his fellow soldiers was flying—or attempting to fly a model airplane! Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… thud.
“That brings back memories!” Jon said, only this guy wasn’t giving up. A crowd gathered and laughed, but the soldier didn’t seem to notice. He just tried again and again! With practice, he became an accomplished flier, and the laughter faded and then stopped. Impressed, Jon thought, I wonder if I should try again?
He bought an airplane and, after nine years, the result was the same. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… thud. Then laughter. However, inspired by the other soldier who didn’t give up, Jon attempted it again and it stayed in the air a little longer. Again and again Jon tried, until he could fly the plane. The laughter faded. He had succeeded!
As he bent down to refuel his plane, Jon realized that all too often, we allow other people’s opinions of us to shape our self-worth. If others think we can do something well, we believe we have value; but if not, then we feel we have no value. However, John 3:16 tells us that Jesus gave His life so we could live with Him forever. Jesus showed us that we are valuable to Him—and His opinion is the only one that counts!
Jon gave the propeller a quick flip and the small engine roared to life. Then, with new confidence, he guided the small model airplane heavenward.
THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Flying Lessons
By Jay Christian
March 8th, 2026
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Ever since little Jonny could remember, he’d loved airplanes. He built models of every kind from kits of plastic or balsa wood. But they all had one thing in common: after he finished them, they just sat on a shelf or hung from his bedroom ceiling.
Then, when he was ten years old, he discovered small, ready-made plastic airplanes with real engines; and they could fly! Two thin strings went through the main wing to someone holding a U-shaped handle, and through those strings, the airplane could be controlled as it flew in a circle around the “pilot.”
Little Jonny got one—a model of a P-40 Flying Tiger flown in World War II. Filled with anticipation, he took the plane to the Little League field where the other kids flew their airplanes.
There were many airplanes flying in circles above the heads of experienced fliers. Some were even flying acrobatics, or were in “dog fights.” He selected his spot, set the plane down, and ran the control strings out taut. He knelt down, put gas in the small gas tank, and connected the spring starter. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… the engine immediately sprang to life.
Excited, Jonny ran to the control handle and tilted his hand back so it would take off. Up it flew, over the top of his head in a long arc. And then… down it went! He heard a thud as the plane crashed, bouncing as it hit the ground. It was made of strong and flexible plastic, so it survived unscathed. But the mishap did not go unnoticed by the other fliers, and a few of them laughed and gathered to watch the next attempt. Now Jonny had an audience!
Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… up it shot again, over the top of his head in a long arc—and then, thud. Jonny’s audience offered their assessment: “Ha, ha, ha! Jonny can’t fly his airplane. Ha, ha, ha!”
Embarrassed, he tried again, but the result was the same. Thud went the airplane, and “ha, ha, ha!” cried the now even larger crowd.
Stupid airplane, Jonny thought, and I’m worthless because I can’t fly it! With stooped shoulders, he picked up his airplane and trudged home to a cacophony of laughter. When he got there, he set it down and never tried to fly it again.
Now Jonny was just Jon, fully grown and stationed in Korea. As he walked across the army base softball field, he heard Rrrrrrrrrrrrr coming from the diamond. One of his fellow soldiers was flying—or attempting to fly a model airplane! Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… thud.
“That brings back memories!” Jon said, only this guy wasn’t giving up. A crowd gathered and laughed, but the soldier didn’t seem to notice. He just tried again and again! With practice, he became an accomplished flier, and the laughter faded and then stopped. Impressed, Jon thought, I wonder if I should try again?
He bought an airplane and, after nine years, the result was the same. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr… thud. Then laughter. However, inspired by the other soldier who didn’t give up, Jon attempted it again and it stayed in the air a little longer. Again and again Jon tried, until he could fly the plane. The laughter faded. He had succeeded!
As he bent down to refuel his plane, Jon realized that all too often, we allow other people’s opinions of us to shape our self-worth. If others think we can do something well, we believe we have value; but if not, then we feel we have no value. However, John 3:16 tells us that Jesus gave His life so we could live with Him forever. Jesus showed us that we are valuable to Him—and His opinion is the only one that counts!
Jon gave the propeller a quick flip and the small engine roared to life. Then, with new confidence, he guided the small model airplane heavenward.
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