Read: John 1:14-18; 8:4-11

Tessie sighed. Time for performing the skit that she and her friends had prepared was running out. Still Candace did not show up.

“Where is she?” Tessie whispered to Gus, another student in the group hoping to perform at the homeschool talent show that evening.

Gus shrugged. “We worked on this for so long—I don’t think she would miss it without telling us. Something must be wrong.”

The next morning, the homeschool group gathered to watch a play performance. Candace waved when she saw Gus and Tessie waiting in the lobby.

“So exciting!” Candace cried. “We get to see real actors!”

“Candace, we were supposed to be real actors last night. What happened? We couldn’t do the skit because you didn’t show up,” Gus replied.

“Oh, I know. I thought about going but then decided I just didn’t want to do it. I told Mom I wasn’t part of the skit anymore.” Candace shrugged. “I’m always responsible. I just needed a chance to be irresponsible this one time.”

Gus and Tessie shook their heads in disbelief. Later, the two friends joined Tessie’s mom during lunch. They described what happened with Candace’s decision to abandon them at the talent show.

“Well, you could kick Candace out of your group of friends and never create another skit with her. Or act as if it’s no big deal and pretend nothing happened,” Tessie’s mom offered.

Gus and Tessie frowned. “I don’t like either of those ideas, Mom,” Tessie said.

“There’s another way which I hope you choose. I know you both have trusted Jesus to rescue you from your sins, so I know you also want to follow His ways. Here’s what Jesus did. He came with both grace and truth. That means He showed people love and mercy but still called out their sin.”

“So, Jesus wants us to still love Candace but also be honest about how she disappointed us?” Gus asked.

Mom nodded. “When friends tell us the truth in a loving way, it gives us a chance to look to Jesus to help us change.”

“Let’s go talk to Candace, Tessie,” Gus said. “If Jesus shows us grace and truth, we can try to do the same with Candace.”

–Allison Wilson Lee

How about you? Have you ever been let down by a friend or loved one and wondered how to handle it? In His life on earth, Jesus showed us how to be honest when another person hurts us while still showing that person love. As we grow in knowing and following Jesus, we can learn to offer others grace and truth too. Trust Him to help you tell the truth in love.

Today's Key Verse: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Jesus gives grace and truth