Pure Technology

Read: Ephesians 5:1-4

Brooke’s bag bounced against her back as she raced across the field. Her sister April stood on the sidewalk just outside the middle school.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Brooke squeezed her big sister. “How long will you be home before you have to go back to college?”

“Two weeks.” April smiled and tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder.

Kids poured out of the school and whizzed by. One of Brooke’s friends waved as she zipped past. “See you on Monday, Brooke.”

“Bye,” Brooke called after her. Her cell phone vibrated against her leg, and she pulled it out.

You HAVE to text me after you see this. It was a message from her friend Mindy.

Brooke touched the screen and music blared from her phone.

“What are you watching?” April asked. She peered over Brooke’s shoulder at the screen.

An unflattering photo of the principal’s head was attached to the body of an ape. It danced around for a couple seconds, and then everything faded to black.

April frowned as Brooke slid the phone into her pocket. “I hope you don’t watch videos like that all the time.”

Brooke shrugged. “I’ve asked Mindy to stop sending them, but she doesn’t listen.”

“Well, it’s not your fault if she tries to get you to watch things that you shouldn’t. But you do have a choice. You can choose not to view the things she sends.”

Brooke nodded. Her sister was right. The videos Mindy sent her didn’t even make her laugh. They made her feel terrible.

April rested a hand on Brooke’s shoulder. “You know how Mom’s always talking about how we need to love others the way Jesus loves us and treat people the way He would? Well, that includes people online and on our phones too. We need to treat them with love and respect because Jesus loves them and died for them.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Brooke said.

“Why don’t you get out your phone so we can take some selfies?” April gave her cheesiest grin and made bunny ears behind Brooke’s head as Brooke took a picture. “Then maybe you can show me the most recent pics of you and your friends.”

Brooke nodded, then held up her phone for another selfie and smiled.

–Annika Klanderud

How about you? Have you ever watched something online that you knew you shouldn’t have? Sometimes it may feel like the things we do online are pretend and don’t really matter, but they can hurt both you and others. Show others God’s love by treating them with respect both online and in person, and use technology to enhance your relationships with others instead of hurting them.

Today's Key Verse: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Use technology in good ways