Read: 1 Timothy 4:11-16

Aimee reached for her cup of hot chocolate and glanced out the window as a group of kids walked across the neighbor’s lawn on their way home from the bus stop. The mug froze halfway to her mouth when she noticed one of them was her little sister.

“Brooklyn, you know Mr. Wilson doesn’t like it when you cut across his lawn!” Aimee said when her sister came through the door. “Why did you do that?”

“Well, the other kids said there isn’t anything wrong with taking a shortcut,” Brooklyn replied. “They said Mr. Wilson has to learn not to get so mad. Those kids are older than me, so they would know.”

“They’re older and know more than you, so that means they’re always right?” asked Aimee. When Brooklyn shrugged in response, Aimee looked down at her mug. “This hot chocolate is really good,” she said. “Want me to make some for you?”

“Yeah!” Brooklyn followed Aimee into the kitchen and watched her spoon some chocolate mix into a cup and then take a pitcher of water from the fridge. “Why are you getting out the ice water, Aimee? I thought you were making hot chocolate. You have to use hot water!”

“Says who? I’m older, so if I say pouring ice water over the chocolate mix will make hot chocolate, it will.”

Brooklyn stared at her sister. “No, it won’t!”

Aimee set down the pitcher of water. “So you see that being older doesn’t make anybody always right?”

Brooklyn sighed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, I get what you’re saying.”

“Good,” said Aimee. “Do you remember what Pastor Williams said last Sunday?”

Brooklyn tried to remember the sermon. “He said no matter how old or young we are, Christians can do what’s right because Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in following what God says in the Bible.”

“Yes, and that includes you!” said Aimee. “And what do you think God says is the right thing to do about Mr. Wilson’s lawn?”

Brooklyn sighed. “Be kind by staying off it so he doesn’t get upset.”

“I agree.” Aimee smiled. “Now, how about some hot chocolate—with hot water?”

Brooklyn nodded eagerly. “Yes, please!”

–Melissa J. Montgomery

How about you? Do you go along with whatever older kids say is okay to do? Have they told you it’s okay to do something your parents or teachers say you shouldn’t do? What God says in the Bible determines what’s right or wrong—not what anyone else says. And He gives Christians the Holy Spirit so we can obey Him and show His love to others. You may be young, but if you know Jesus, you can do what’s right.

Today's Key Verse: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Do the right thing