Daily Devotional for February 3, 2017
Remote Control (Part 2)
Bryce and Andrew took their remote control truck out to the driveway while Mom was weeding the flower beds. Their little sister, Olivia, was hopping around on a pogo stick. “Mom,” Olivia said, “I wish I had a remote control pogo stick. I could ride it, and you could make it to go up and down, up and down, all by itself. That would be fun!”
“Yeah, that would be cool!” said Bryce as he watched his sister.
Mom laughed. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” she said. “Maybe you can invent one when you grow up.”
“But I want one now!” said Olivia.
“I have an idea,” said Mom. “When I give a command, do whatever I say. If I say to go left, you go left. If I say to go right, you go right. It’s kind of like I’m moving you by remote control! How about that?” Olivia grinned and nodded. “Ready?” asked Mom. “Okay, go straight ahead…turn left…turn left again…now go right…back up…go forward…stop!” Olivia bounced around, laughing as she followed her mother’s instructions. The boys joined in too, and soon they were taking turns giving and receiving commands.
That night, Mom read a Bible story about a Roman leader who asked Jesus to heal his servant. “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof,” the man said. “But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”
“Jesus was pleased with that man’s faith,” Mom explained after she finished reading. “The servant was healed the moment Jesus simply said, ‘So let it be done for you.’”
“Just like a remote control!” said Andrew.
Mom smiled. “That’s an interesting way to look at it,” she said. “God made this world, and He controls everything in it—but not always like a remote control. He wants us to give Him control by surrendering to Him and following His commands—just like Olivia let me control where her pogo stick went by following my directions. The man in the story gave Jesus control by admitting his sin and asking Jesus to do what he could not. If we’re wise, we’ll let Jesus have control of our lives too by trusting in Him and following His commands.” – Tait E. Powell
How about you?
Are you living the way God wants you to by putting your faith in Jesus and following His commands? Or are you living the way you want? Even though God is in control of everything, He gives you the choice of how to live your life. When you choose to trust and obey Jesus, He will direct your life’s path—a path that ends in eternity with Him. (See the ABCs of Salvation in the column to the right.)
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