Window Shopping

Bible Reading: Read: Titus 2:7-8, 11-14

As Bryan and his dad walked through the mall, Bryan talked about how he and some kids from church had collected cans from people around the neighborhood for a fundraising project. “When I knocked on Mr. Martin’s door, he wouldn’t give me any cans to take back to church. He said he didn’t even believe I was a Christian!”

“Hmm,” murmured Dad. “That’s too bad. Have you said or done anything around Mr. Martin that would make him feel that way?”

“I don’t think so,” Bryan answered. But then he remembered something. Maybe Mr. Martin knows I’m the one who knocked a ball through his window, he thought. I was going to tell him, but the other guys said I shouldn’t. They said he’d never know who did it. “Nothing much, anyway,” Bryan added when he noticed Dad looking at him. Dad frowned.

Just then they arrived at a sporting goods store. Bryan pointed to a football displayed in the window. “Look! There’s the ball I want. Can we go in and see how much it costs?”

“How do you know they sell that kind of football here?” Dad asked.

Bryan gave his dad a questioning look. “How do I know?” he asked in surprise. “It’s in the window! Everybody knows the stuff you see in the window is sold in the store.”

Dad nodded. “It makes sense that what we see out here is what we believe we’ll find inside,” he said. “That’s how it is with people too. What they see in our actions is what they believe we’re like inside. So for someone to believe we’re Christian, they need to believe we follow Christ—that’s where the word Christian comes from. They need to see us act the way Jesus would.” Dad headed for the store’s entrance. “Well, let’s go inside and see if you can afford that ball.”

Bryan hesitated. “Dad, wait!” he said. Then he told him about the broken window. “I’m not going to buy a football now,” Bryan said. “I need to use my money to pay Mr. Martin for that window!” – Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?

Do your actions show people that you follow Jesus? Are the things you’ve said and done today things Jesus would say and do? What you display on the outside should show what’s on the inside—that Jesus is in your life. Show people that you belong to Jesus by doing things and treating others the way He would.

Today’s Key Verse:
Titus 2:14 [Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin…and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Let Jesus be seen in you