Ellen’s Pact

FAITHFULNESS IS RIGHT BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Genesis 40:1-23.

Verse of the Day: “The unfailing love of the Lord never ends!. . . Great is his faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

“Let’s make a pact,” Kelly suggested.

“A what?” her friend Ellen asked. They sat together on the benches outside the school gym, waiting for their names to be called. They were each trying out for parts in the school play.

“You know, where two people agree to something,” Kelly said. “Let’s make a pact that if one of us gets a part in the play and the other person doesn’t, we’ll still help each other learn our parts and stuff.”

“OK,” agreed Ellen with a shrug.

Kelly held her little finger up in the air. Ellen wrapped her pinkie finger around Kelly’s finger, and they shook. “It’s a deal?” Kelly said. “Deal,” Ellen said.

The following Monday, the play parts were posted on the gym doors.

“I can’t bear to look,” Kelly said. She covered her eyes with her hand. “Did I make

it?”

Ellen didn’t answer for a few moments. When she spoke, her voice was dull. “You got the part.”

Kelly opened her eyes and screamed. She wrapped her arms around Ellen and danced up and down for a few moments. Then she let go. “What’s wrong?” she asked Ellen, and immediately knew the answer. “You didn’t make it?”

“No,” Ellen said crossly. “If you must know.”

“Are you sure?” Kelly stepped toward the gym door and peered at the list.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Ellen answered. “I’ve got to go, OK?” She started walking away.

“OK,” Kelly answered, catching up to her friend from behind. “I’ll call you, OK? I’ll get the script and we can … you know, work on my part together, OK? That could be kinda fun.”

Ellen waved a hand carelessly at her friend. “I’ll probably be too busy,” she said. She didn’t look at Kelly. “I don’t think I can.”

Kelly stopped then and watched her friend walk away down the long school hallway. She knew she’d have to find someone else to help her study her part… pact or no pact.

TO DISCUSS: What was wrong with Ellen’s behavior? How was it like the cupbearer’s behavior in today’s Bible reading? What makes faithfulness right and unfaithfulness wrong? Do you ever act like Ellen? Why or why not?

TO PRAY: “Lord, help us to be faithful in word and deed because we know you are faithful.”