Serving Others

Reading: Matthew 25:31-40

“The Best Fun” is from the book Tiger & Tom and Other Stories for Boys.  Published in 1910, the book can be read freely online.

THE BEST FUN

“Now, boys, I’ll tell you how we can have some fun,” said Fred Blake to his companions, who had assembled on a beautiful, moonlight evening for sliding, snowballing, and fun generally.

“How?” “Where?” “What is it?” asked several eager voices together.

“I heard Widow More tell a man a little while ago,” replied Fred, “that she would go to sit up with a sick child to-night. She said she would be there about eight o’clock. Now, as soon as she is gone, let’s make a big snow man on her doorstep so that when she comes home, she cannot get in without first knocking him down.”

Take Up Your Cross

Reading: Luke 9:23-26

Jesus said that we must take up a cross if we want to save our soul.  Sometimes our “crosses” – our duties and responsibilities – feel very heavy.  Jesus’ certainly did.  But what does this tell us about the value of our souls?  Was Jesus ashamed to carry a cross for us?

Do you ever wish it wasn’t so hard to be good?  Do you ever wish that you didn’t have duties and difficulties, but could just do what you want?  What would happen, do you think, if we didn’t have to work hard to get to heaven?  Do you think we would appreciate Heaven if our lives here on earth were filled with nothing but pleasure?

Doing Good

Reading: Luke 6:27-38

The following tale is an excerpt from the story “Metempsychosis.”  This tale can be found in the book, The Wonderful Pocket and Other Stories which was written in 1869 by Chauncey Giles.  Now out of print, the book can be read freely online.  It is an interesting story that encourages young boys and girls to do good to others.

METEMPSYCHOSIS

“O Father!” said little John Clive, “what is the meaning of this long, hard word?”

“What word?” asked his father.

“I cannot pronounce it. It is too long and hard for me,” said John… John brought the book to his father.

“That is metempsychosis.”

“Me-temp-sy-cho-sis,” said John, pronouncing it very slowly. “What a long, hard word! It must have a big meaning, I am sure. But I don’t see what they make such long, hard words for.”

“They make them to express ideas,” said his father.

“Well,” replied John,” metempsychosis must express a bigger idea than I ever had.”

“Very probable,” said his father; “but it contains a very interesting one, nevertheless; and when I have explained it to you, I will tell you a very strange dream I had about it last night.”

Self-Control

Reading: 1 Kings 21:1-16

Jezebel was a wicked queen. In this story, she knows that her husband Ahab is jealous for Naboth’s vineyard. She wants to make him feel better. She does this by having Naboth killed! Later on, the prophet Elijah says that God will punish both of them (you can read about their deaths in 2 Kings).

In the book of Revelation, the Lord tells John that there is an evil woman in the church who is a false prophetess, teaching the Christians to commit sin and worship idols (Revelation 2:20-23). The Lord doesn’t give the woman’s real name, but He says she is a Jezebel!

We can be like Jezebel too:

• When we’re willing to sin to make someone happy.
• When we teach others to do evil.
• When we don’t teach the Word of God correctly.
• When we trust our feelings and emotions instead of trying to find out what is truly right.

Sometimes it’s very easy to be guided by our feelings instead of stepping back, being careful, and looking at things the way God wants us to. Part of growing up and being wise means learning to control our feelings and not using our influence on others to get things for ourselves. Pray to God that you can learn to do this as you get older and learn more from His Word. Pray to God that you can learn to use all your strength and knowledge to serve Him and others.

MY DAILY CREED

Let me be a little kinder,
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;
Let me praise a little more;
Let me be, when I am weary,
Just a little bit more cherry;
Let me serve a little better
Those that I am striving for.

Harsh Words

Reading: Matthew 7:1-6

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Do not incline my heart to any evil thing….

Psalm 143:3-4a

“The Dangerous Door” was published in The King’s Daughter and Other Stories for Girls in 1910. This book of moral stories is in the public domain and may be read freely online.

THE DANGEROUS DOOR

“Oh, cousin Will, do tell us a story! There’s just time before the school-bell rings.” And Harry, Kate, Bob, and little Peace crowded about their older cousin until he declared himself ready to do anything they wished.

“Very well,” said Cousin Will. “I will tell you about some dangerous doors I have seen.”

“Oh, that’s good!” exclaimed Bob. “Were they all iron and heavy bars? And if one passed in, did they shut and keep them there forever?”

“No; the doors I mean are pink or scarlet, and when they open you can see a row of little servants standing all in white, and behind them is a little lady dressed in crimson.”

Loving our Neighbors

Reading: Matthew 5:21-26

Is it easy to make things right with those around you? Is it easy to “agree with your adversary”? Romans 15:2 tell us to “please our neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” When we can put aside differences, it builds up our faith and the faith of those around us. When we refuse to do so, it displeases our Lord.

The following story is excerpted from Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty. The book was published in 1891 and can be read freely online.

THE LAW OF THE WOOD

“NEVER!”

What a word to be heard in a wood on an early summer morning, before the sun had quite struggled through the mists, and before the dew had left the flowers and while all Nature was passing through the changes that separate night from day, adapting herself gently to the necessities of the hour….