Playing with Fire

Bible Reading: Matthew 18:7-9

Jacob grabbed a hammer from his dad’s toolbox and slammed it shut. He carried it out to the driveway and pulled a curious-looking object out of his pocket. He’d seen something like this in a science video once, and if this explosion was anything like that one, it would be the coolest thing ever.

Carefully, he set the object on the pavement. Holding the hammer far away from his body, he slammed the hammer down. Nothing. He must have missed.

Moving slightly closer, he gritted his teeth, aimed carefully, and slammed the hammer down again. This time, a spark hit the object, and it swelled and slowly expanded into a thin, snaky shape. Jacob stared at it, fascinated, as his dad pulled into the driveway.

“What do you have there, Jake?” Dad asked, squatting next to Jacob.

“I found it on the bus, Dad! It looked like something I saw in a video once, and the label said, ‘Magic Snake.’ It didn’t explode, though.”

Dad sucked in his breath. “You mean you smashed this thing to try to get it to explode?”

Jacob shrugged. “I just did what I saw the guy in the video do.”

“Jacob!” said Dad. “Do you realize you could have lost a finger—or even an eye? You should know better than to play with explosives!”

Jacob dropped his eyes. “But—it didn’t work. At least not the way I thought it would.”

“Well, I’m thankful for that,” Dad said. He patted Jacob’s shoulder. “Jake, I know it can be tempting to try anything that seems fun or exciting, but you can’t treat danger like a toy.” He picked up the magic snake and turned it over. “This snake reminds me of other things that can be tempting. A lot of things that are sinful often seem fun or exciting, but they can blow up in your face and cost you a lot more than a finger or an eye. No matter how exciting it first appears, sin always has consequences.” Dad got up and put the charred snake in the trash can next to the garage. “Now, no more explosives—and no more snakes!” – Rebekah Love Dorris

How About You?

Are you tempted to try new things, even when you know they could be physically—or spiritually—hazardous? It’s always a good idea to listen when people say, “Don’t try this at home.” Whether it’s a wild stunt or a mysterious new game, make sure to run it by a wise person first. If you don’t want anyone to know, you shouldn’t be doing it.

Today’s Key Verse:
James 1:15 (ERV) Your desire grows inside you until it results in sin. Then the sin grows bigger and bigger and finally ends in death.

Today’s Key Thought:

Don’t play with sin