Eyes on Me

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:28-31; Hebrews 12:1-2

“Are you ready?” Scott asked as Jenny placed her feet on her bike pedals.

Jenny nodded. It had been a hard week for both of them. Their dad’s company had laid him off, and it was getting harder and harder to find work. So to get their minds off things, Scott said he would teach Jenny to ride a two-wheeler.

“I’m going to walk ahead,” Scott said. “Just follow behind and keep your eyes on me.”

As Scott walked, Jenny began pedaling slowly. She was scared at first, but after a while, riding the bike became easier. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Jenny saw a pair of headlights coming toward her and grew scared. What if Scott led her too close to the car and she crashed into it? She turned hard to the left, and the bike began to tilt. Jenny screamed, and Scott dove forward and caught her just before she hit the ground.

“Why weren’t you following me?” he asked.

“A car was coming, so I turned to get out of the way.”

Scott sighed and said they should just head home. He helped Jenny walk her bike back to the house.

Later that night, Jenny’s mom came into her room. “I heard about the bike incident today,” she said. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” said Jenny. “I was just afraid Scott was going to lead me too close to the car or let me fall.”

Mom shook her head. “Scott knows that route very well and wouldn’t have let anything happen to you.” She sighed. “You remind me of Peter.”

“Who?” Jenny asked, surprised.

“Peter, from the Bible. He walked on water with Jesus, which is a lot harder than riding a bicycle. When he kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked tall and confident. But when he glanced down at the waves, he began to sink.” Mom squeezed Jenny’s shoulder. “I know things have been hard with Dad not having a job, and that can be scary. That’s why we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He saved us from sin, and we can trust Him to lead us and care for us, no matter what we go through. He’ll never let us fall.”

– Kayla James

How About You?

Have you ever struggled with trusting Jesus? Have you experienced something that made you wonder if He was taking care of you? When difficult or scary things happen, don’t turn from God and try to find your own way. Remember that Jesus saved you and that you belong to Him. He knows where you need to go, and when scary things happen, He will always be there to catch you.

Today’s Key Verse:
Hebrews 12:2 [Let us fix] our eyes on Jesus…For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Keep your eyes on Jesus