Keep in Step

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-26; Hebrews 12:1-3

“Look! Here they come,” said Isabella’s dad. He pointed down the street past the next few parade entries.

Isabella could hear the beat of the drums from a block away. She searched for her brother. All the students in his middle school marching band were wearing matching uniforms with hats pulled down low over their foreheads.

“They all look alike,” Isabella said. “How will I find Max?”

“He’ll be in the row with the other trombone players,” said Dad.

As the band got closer, the drum major turned around and marched backwards, facing the band. He blew a whistle, then waved his baton in the air. The band started playing a song. He turned and marched forward again, never missing a step.

Left, right, left, right. Isabella tried to match the tempo with her own feet. “Look, Dad,” she said as she marched in place. “I’m practicing for when I get older.” Isabella spied her brother as his row passed in front of her. “Hi, Max!” she yelled, waving. He stared straight ahead, playing his trombone and marching in time with the music. Isabella’s feet lost their rhythm, and she stopped marching. “Dad, why didn’t Max look at me?” she asked, disappointed.

“Max needs to stay focused on the drum major so he knows how to march and when to play,” Dad explained.

Isabella grinned. “That’s sounds like what we talked about during devotions last night! We talked about how we need to stay focused on Jesus and trust Him to help us show His love to others.”

Dad nodded. “Just like a drum major leads the band, Jesus leads us in living out His love. He gave us the Holy Spirit, who helps us keep in step with who Jesus has made us to be as His children. Then we won’t be led astray by things that distract us or tempt us to sin.”

“Like Max didn’t let anything distract him?”

“Right,” said Dad. “He stayed focused on the drum major and trusted him to lead him and the rest of the band in what they needed to do.”

Isabella heard another band coming. “I want to practice keeping in step,” she said.

“With the bands?” Dad asked.

“With Jesus,” Isabella said, and she started to march.

-Marie Cleveland

How About You?

Are you marching to the beat of Jesus’s love in your life? To keep in step with Jesus, first trust Him to forgive your sins. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.) Then His Holy Spirit will live in your heart and guide you in your new life with Him. Trust Jesus to be your leader, and keep your focus on Him.

Today’s Key Verse:
Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Keep in step with Jesus