Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-12

“What are these clothes for?” asked Violet. She was at her friend Olivia Johnson’s house, and Mrs. Johnson had the dining room covered with dresses, pants, and some items of clothing Addy didn’t even recognize.

Olivia laughed. “Mom helps the high school drama department with costumes for their plays. She’s going through old costumes to see which ones can be used again.” Olivia picked up a red dress. “You want to try some on? Mom will let us, won’t you, Mom?”

“If you girls are careful,” said Mrs. Johnson.

For the next hour or so, the girls went from being ladies from the 1700s to aliens from outer space. Their favorites were the animal costumes. Violet was a zebra, and Olivia was a lion. The costumes completely covered them except for air holes and a slit for their eyes. “Mrs. Johnson, my dad is out mowing the lawn. Can we walk past my house in our costumes? He won’t know who we are, and I can’t wait to see the look on his face!”

Mrs. Johnson laughed. “Sure.”

The girls giggled as they quietly went out the back door and then behind some trees to the sidewalk. They didn’t want Violet’s dad to see them coming from the Johnson house. They waited until he turned the mower toward the sidewalk, then they hurriedly walked past him.

Violet’s dad turned off the mower. “Oh no! My daughter has turned into a zebra and her friend is a lion! What shall I do?”

Violet removed the zebra head. “Daaad! How did you know it was us?”

He laughed. “Your walk, Violet. I knew who you were by the way you were walking.”

The family had a good laugh about Violet’s costume over supper that night. Then Violet had a thought. “This is kind of like what we were talking about last week, Dad, when I was having problems with some friends at school. You said people should know I’m a Christian by the way I live my life–that I needed to walk the Christian walk.”

“Exactly right,” said Dad. “The Bible tells us that others should know we belong to Jesus by the way we walk. Every step we take should point to Him and His love for us.”

– Linda Weddle

How About You?
Do others know you’re a Christian by the way you walk? That doesn’t mean whether you tiptoe or march, but how you live your life. Could someone tell you know Jesus and have His love in your heart by your kindness, patience, and joy? Or do you walk the same as everyone else? Walk in a way that shows others the love of Jesus.

Today’s Key Verse:
The one who says he remains in him [Jesus] should walk just as he walked. (CSB) (1 John 2:6)

Today’s Key Thought:
Walk like a Christian