Daily Devotional for March 16, 2018
Swaying Castle
“There!” Isaac said as he finished pounding a nail. “This is the best tree house ever! When it’s really windy like this, you can feel the whole tree house move. It’s like being in a swaying castle! Let’s ask if we can sleep out here tonight.”
“I know my dad won’t let me,” said Bryce. “He says he has to be sure it’s safe before we use it, but I know he won’t have time to check it out today.”
“My dad said the same thing,” Isaac said. “I know! Let’s each ask our parents if we can spend the night together. They’ll think we’re at each other’s houses, but we’ll really be sleeping in the tree house.”
“I don’t know,” Bryce said, but he finally agreed to try it.
Their plan worked, but in the middle of the night, a loud crack of thunder and the sound of wind and rain woke the boys. “The whole tree house is swaying!” Bryce said.
“And the roof is leaking!” Isaac said. “Let’s go to my house.”
The storm had awakened Isaac’s parents too, and they were very surprised when the boys stumbled into the kitchen. “What happened? Is something wrong at your house, Bryce?” Isaac’s dad asked.
“No,” Isaac said, “we…um…we were sleeping in the tree house. But it starting swaying and leaking in the storm, so we came here.”
“The tree house?” asked Mom. “Did Bryce’s parents say you could do that? You asked if you could stay at his house overnight.”
“Actually, I just asked if I could spend the night with Bryce,” Isaac replied.
“I see,” Dad said. “So your words were correct, but you deceived us and lied with your actions, didn’t you?”
With downcast eyes, the boys nodded.
Dad sighed. “Boys, lying and deceiving others makes you like that swaying tree house—it makes it so people can’t trust you anymore. And how can you show people Jesus’ love if they don’t trust you? The Bible says Jesus is a firm foundation and that we can always trust Him—and He wants you to help others understand who He is by telling them the truth in love.”
The boys nodded. “I’m sorry, Dad,” Isaac said. “I’ll tell Jesus I’m sorry too.” – Agnes Livezey
How about you?
Are you trustworthy? Can people count on you to be honest in both your words and your actions? God hates lying and deceitfulness because it goes against everything He is—a firm foundation who always acts in goodness and truth. We can always trust Him to take care of us and do what’s right. He wants you—as one of His children—to communicate that to others. Be truthful in all you do and say.
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