Tumbling Cans

Bible Reading: Mark 8:34-38

“I need to pick up a few groceries before dropping you off at your game, Carter,” said Mom as she turned in at the supermarket. “You can come in, but keep an eye on your little sister while I zip on ahead. I’ll meet you at the checkout in ten minutes.”

“Okay,” Carter said. “Come on, Ella.” He took his sister’s hand as they got out of the car.

“Look!” said Ella when they went into the store. “Candy!”

“Don’t touch anything, Ella,” Carter warned. As they turned down an aisle, they met one of Carter’s classmates. “Hey, Brad,” said Carter, and the two boys started talking.

CRASH! Whirling around, Carter saw Ella sitting in the middle of a soup display. Cans were rolling everywhere. “Ella!” Carter yelled. “I told you not to touch!” Ella began to cry as Brad and Carter tried to restack the cans. A stock boy relieved them of the task, so Carter grabbed Ella and rushed to find Mom.

That evening, Carter told Dad what happened at the store. “I was so embarrassed!” he said. “I just wanted to hide. I didn’t want anyone to know Ella was my sister!”

Ella frowned at her brother. “Carter yelled real loud at me and made me cry! So I was ’shamed of him too.”

“So you were ashamed of each other,” said Dad. “Does that make you think of the Bible verses we read this morning?”

“Oh yeah…they said something about Jesus being ashamed of us, didn’t they?” Carter replied.

Dad nodded. “We sometimes seem to be afraid to let people know we love Jesus. We might be hesitant to tell them we have a relationship with Him because we’re worried of what they might think of us. But the verses we read this morning say that if we’re ashamed of Him, Jesus will be ashamed of us when He comes back again. That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” said Carter. “When you think of all Jesus did for us, we should be glad to tell people about Him, no matter what anyone thinks or says.”

“That’s right,” said Dad. “He was willing to bear the shame of the cross so we could be saved and have eternal life. We should never be ashamed of Him.”

-Brenda Decker

How About You?

Do your words and actions show you’re not ashamed of Jesus? Are you open about going to church and believing the Bible? Do you tell others about Jesus? Or are you embarrassed to be known as a Christian? Someday Jesus will come back as King. Will He be ashamed of you when He returns in glory? Live each day in a way that shows others you love and follow Him.

Today’s Key Verse:
Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message… the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Don’t be ashamed of Jesus