Bicycle Bait
THE FOOLISH HEART DENIES AND DISOBEYS GOD.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Psalm 14:1-5.
Verse of the Day: “God is with those who obey him” (Psalm 14:5).
Wendy could tell that Josh was up to no good. She saw him enter her backyard through the gate. He walked fast and looked around as he approached her.
“Hi, Josh,” she said. She and Josh played together sometimes, and they had even built a crude clubhouse in the woods behind her house.
“Guess what,” Josh said in a whisper. He continued without waiting for her to answer. “Somebody left a new mountain bike in the alley behind Papa’s Pizza.”
A new mountain bike sure sounded tempting. Wendy shrugged. “It’s got to belong to somebody.”
“Well, duh!” Josh answered. “But whoever left it there didn’t lock it up.” “So?”
“So, we could go take it and keep it in our clubhouse. That way it could belong to both of us.”
Wendy flashed Josh an exasperated look, as if she couldn’t believe he would suggest such a thing. “Josh, that would be stealing!”
“Well, duh!” he said again. “But how do we know the person it belongs to didn’t steal it too?”
Wendy’s face wrinkled in an expression of confusion. “What difference does that make? Besides,” she said, “God says not to steal.”
It was Josh’s turn to look confused. “Oh, come on, Wendy,” he said. “I don’t believe in all that God-and-Sunday-school stuff anyway. Are you going to help me or not?”
Wendy flashed Josh a disgusted look. “Not!” she said emphatically.
“Oh, you’re such a wimp!” he said as he stomped away.
Wendy was glad to see Josh leave. She played by herself for a while, then walked around to the front yard when she heard dogs barking down the street. Her mouth dropped open as she saw a police car in front of Josh’s house. A police officer walked Josh up the steps of his front porch.
She remembered her earlier conversation with Josh and instantly knew what had happened. She prayed without closing her eyes. “I’m sorry Josh is in trouble,” she said, “but I’m really glad I obeyed you.”
TO DISCUSS: Why was Wendy able to make the decision that she did? Have you ever faced a similar situation? What did you do?
TO PRAY: “Heavenly Father, please help us remember that it is foolish to deny you or disobey you. We need your help to make right choices, Father. Please help us choose right and stay away from evil, because we know that you are with all those who obey you.”