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08-17-2007, 03:10 AM
TITLE: The Nail and the Toothpick
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 27:1-5, 14
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
Several boys in Andy's neighborhood were at it again, cursing and telling dirty jokes. Andy stood there, hating it all, but saying nothing. "Didn't you get the point?" asked one of the boys when Andy didn't laugh at his joke.
Andy swallowed hard. "I got it," he said. "I have to go." He mumbled good-by and hurried away. Why didn't I tell them I'm a Christian and don't like their dirty talk? he thought. And why did I hang around so long? Andy sighed. It's sure hard to be the only Christian kid in the neighborhood.
Running fast with his head down and his mind on his troubles, Andy didn't see Pastor Flint until he smacked into him. "Oh, I'm sorry!" exclaimed Andy.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked the pastor.
"No place-just getting away from the guys. They're talking dirty," said Andy. He hesitated. "It's really hard to stand up for the Lord all by yourself."
"Yes, it is," agreed Pastor Flint. He took a toothpick from his pocket. "You're like this toothpick," he added. "Here-see if you can break it."
Andy took the toothpick and broke it easily. "You mean I'm weak-not strong enough to say anything, right?" he asked. "Yeah, I know I am."
"Oh, but look," said the pastor, holding out a nail and another toothpick. "Hold the nail alongside the toothpick and see if you can you break them."
"I can't do that!" exclaimed Andy. "I'd have to break the nail. That's impossible!"
"Well," said Pastor Flint, "as I said, you're like a toothpick-but you're like the toothpick with the nail beside it."
Andy frowned. "But who's like the nail then? Dad? Or you? I'd feel much stronger with one of you around, but you're not always there."
"No," said Pastor Flint, "but Jesus is. Ask Him to help. He's always there to give you strength to resist evil."
Andy was thoughtful. "Yeah, you're right," he admitted, looking at the nail.
"I was on my way to show this object lesson to Ralph Burns," said Pastor Flint.
"Ralph?" asked Andy. "He lives just a few houses away from ours."
Pastor Flint nodded. "He's having trouble with the other boys, too. You see, Ralph thinks he's the only Christian boy in the neighborhood."
MEMORY VERSE:
Wait on the Lord . . . and He shall strengthen your heart. Psalm 27:14
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have trouble standing up for what's right? By trusting Jesus, you can have the strength you need. With His help, you can find the courage to refuse to take part in sinful things. You can find the nerve to speak out against sin. You can find and use opportunities to speak up for Jesus. And when you do, you may even discover there are other Christians around. You can encourage them to take a stand, too.
THE KEY: Be strong in the Lord
Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for August 17, 2007
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 27:1-5, 14
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
Several boys in Andy's neighborhood were at it again, cursing and telling dirty jokes. Andy stood there, hating it all, but saying nothing. "Didn't you get the point?" asked one of the boys when Andy didn't laugh at his joke.
Andy swallowed hard. "I got it," he said. "I have to go." He mumbled good-by and hurried away. Why didn't I tell them I'm a Christian and don't like their dirty talk? he thought. And why did I hang around so long? Andy sighed. It's sure hard to be the only Christian kid in the neighborhood.
Running fast with his head down and his mind on his troubles, Andy didn't see Pastor Flint until he smacked into him. "Oh, I'm sorry!" exclaimed Andy.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked the pastor.
"No place-just getting away from the guys. They're talking dirty," said Andy. He hesitated. "It's really hard to stand up for the Lord all by yourself."
"Yes, it is," agreed Pastor Flint. He took a toothpick from his pocket. "You're like this toothpick," he added. "Here-see if you can break it."
Andy took the toothpick and broke it easily. "You mean I'm weak-not strong enough to say anything, right?" he asked. "Yeah, I know I am."
"Oh, but look," said the pastor, holding out a nail and another toothpick. "Hold the nail alongside the toothpick and see if you can you break them."
"I can't do that!" exclaimed Andy. "I'd have to break the nail. That's impossible!"
"Well," said Pastor Flint, "as I said, you're like a toothpick-but you're like the toothpick with the nail beside it."
Andy frowned. "But who's like the nail then? Dad? Or you? I'd feel much stronger with one of you around, but you're not always there."
"No," said Pastor Flint, "but Jesus is. Ask Him to help. He's always there to give you strength to resist evil."
Andy was thoughtful. "Yeah, you're right," he admitted, looking at the nail.
"I was on my way to show this object lesson to Ralph Burns," said Pastor Flint.
"Ralph?" asked Andy. "He lives just a few houses away from ours."
Pastor Flint nodded. "He's having trouble with the other boys, too. You see, Ralph thinks he's the only Christian boy in the neighborhood."
MEMORY VERSE:
Wait on the Lord . . . and He shall strengthen your heart. Psalm 27:14
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have trouble standing up for what's right? By trusting Jesus, you can have the strength you need. With His help, you can find the courage to refuse to take part in sinful things. You can find the nerve to speak out against sin. You can find and use opportunities to speak up for Jesus. And when you do, you may even discover there are other Christians around. You can encourage them to take a stand, too.
THE KEY: Be strong in the Lord
Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for August 17, 2007