Read: Proverbs 12:17-22

“There!” Isaac said as he finished pounding a nail. “This is the best tree house ever! When it’s really windy like this, you can feel the whole tree house move. It’s like being in a swaying castle! Let’s ask if we can sleep out here tonight.”

“I know my dad won’t let me,” said Bryce. “He says he has to be sure it’s safe first.”

“My dad said the same thing,” said Isaac. “I know! Let’s each ask our parents if we can spend the night together. They’ll think we’re at each other’s houses, but we’ll really be sleeping in the tree house.”

“I don’t know,” Bryce said, but he finally agreed to try it.

Their plan worked, but in the middle of the night, a loud crack of thunder and the sound of wind and rain woke the boys. “The whole tree house is swaying!” Bryce said.

“And the roof is leaking!” said Isaac. “Let’s go into the house.”

The storm had awakened Isaac’s parents too, and they were very surprised when the boys stumbled into the kitchen. “What happened? Is something wrong at your house, Bryce?” Isaac’s dad asked.

“No,” Isaac said, “we…um…we were sleeping in the tree house. But it starting swaying and leaking in the storm, so we came here.”

Mom’s eyes widened. “You mean you’ve been in our backyard this whole time? You asked if you could stay at Bryce’s house overnight.”

“Well, not exactly,” said Isaac. “I just asked if I could spend the night with Bryce.”

“I see,” said Dad. “So you didn’t exactly lie, but you still deceived us by letting us think you were at Bryce’s, didn’t you?”

With downcast eyes, the boys nodded.

Dad sighed. “Boys, lying and deceiving others makes you like that swaying tree house—it tells people they can’t trust you. And how do you think we and Bryce’s parents would feel if none of us knew where you were in the morning?”

“I’m sorry, Dad,” Isaac said.

“I forgive you,” Dad said. “But the tree house will be off-limits for a while. As you build back our trust, remember that the Bible says Jesus is a firm foundation who is always trustworthy. Trust Him to help you show His love by being truthful in both your words and your actions.”

–Agnes Livezey

How about you? Are you trustworthy? Can people count on you to be honest in both your words and your actions? God hates lying and deceitfulness because it goes against everything He is—a firm foundation who always acts in goodness and truth. We can always trust Him to tell us the truth and do what’s right. As His children, He will help us be truthful in all we say and do.

Today's Key Verse: So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. Ephesians 4:25 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Be trustworthy

Read: James 4:7-11

Harley’s cat jumped up on the desk and started batting at her pencil. “Mom, can you come get Sassy?” Harley called down the hallway. “I’m trying to do my homework.”

Mom came to Harley’s door and laughed when she saw Sassy bat Harley’s pencil out of her hand and onto the floor.

“Can you take her, please?” Harley asked. “She’s distracting me, and I need to get this done so I can meet Grace at the park.”

Mom took Sassy out of the room and closed the door. A few minutes later, Harley saw something move out of the corner of her eye. Sassy was sticking her paws through the crack underneath the door. “Mom, Sassy’s still pestering me!” Harley called.

“Harley, there’s really nothing I can do,” Mom called back. “If I take her away, she’ll just come back the moment I set her down. Just ignore her and stay focused, and eventually she’ll stop.”

Harley did her best to focus on her homework and found that Mom was right. Sassy soon stopped. Harley finished her homework, then left to meet her friend at the park.

Later that day, Harley joined her mom in the living room. “Hi, Harley,” Mom said. “How was the park?”

“It was okay, but Grace kept wanting to talk badly about some of the kids at school,” Harley said as she picked up Sassy, who was lounging on the couch.

“How did you handle it?” Mom asked.

“Well, I thought about Sassy distracting me earlier and that when I stayed focused on what was important, she eventually stopped. So I did the same with Grace. When she tried to get me to talk badly about others, I stayed focused on Jesus and how much He loves the people Grace was talking about. Then when Grace said something bad about someone, I’d think of something nice to say about them instead. Eventually she stopped trying to get me to talk about people.”

Mom got up to pet Sassy, who was now curled up in a ball on Harley’s lap. “It sounds like Sassy has taught you how to resist temptation by focusing on what’s important—Jesus.” At that, Sassy batted at Mom’s hand, and both Harley and Mom laughed.

–Melissa Yeagle

How about you? Do your friends ever try to get you to do things you know are wrong? You can resist by focusing on Jesus. When you’re faced with a tough situation, remember that He saved you and you belong to Him. He gives you the ability to do what’s right and wants you to show His love to others by treating them kindly. When you’re tempted to sin, focus on Him.

Today's Key Verse: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Stay focused on Jesus

Read: Matthew 18:15, 23-35

“Dad, look at this sore on my arm.” Cole pulled up his sleeve to expose a weeping red gash on his forearm.

“Is that where you got burned at the bonfire?” Dad asked. “It’s getting worse. Let’s see if Dr. Patel can look at it.”

While Dad called the clinic, Cole scratched his arm. When Dad hung up the phone, he said, “They had a cancellation. If we hurry we can see the doctor.” As Dad drove, he said, “I hope they can do something so you can go to your church group tonight.”

“I don’t want to go. I might run into Brad, and this is his fault. I told him to stop pushing me by the fire. But he wouldn’t quit, and I got burned.”

“He was wrong to do that, Cole. But missing church to stay away from him is just going to make things worse. Jesus says that if someone sins against you, you’re supposed to tell him, and if he asks you to forgive him, you do it because Jesus forgave you.”

“I told him, but he just laughed. Our youth leader had a talk with him. Even if Brad apologizes now, I’ll just laugh at him.”

Dad parked in the clinic lot. “Does your arm look good to you, Cole?”

“No, it looks gross.”

“That’s exactly what an unforgiving heart looks like to God—oozing, stinking, and unable to heal. When you hold a grudge against someone, it’s like tearing open a wound every time you think about it. You told Brad that he did wrong—that’s the first step the Bible tells you to take. Now you need to trust Jesus to help you forgive. Remember, He paid for all your sins and forgives you completely whenever you do something wrong.” Dad opened the car door. “Let’s go or we’ll miss the appointment.”

Dr. Patel cleaned and bandaged the wound and told Cole to come back in a week.

On the drive home, Dad said, “I see that bandage is protecting your sore. You’re not scratching it now.”

“It feels better. And I feel better about forgiving Brad. I prayed about it at the clinic, and instead of imagining how I’ll get back at him, I’m ready to forgive.”

–Laura Roesler

How about you? Is there anyone who has wronged you and won’t apologize? Do you feel bitter about it? Do you plan to hold a grudge and never forgive that person? Don’t let bitterness ooze like a wound that won’t heal in your heart. Remember how much Jesus has forgiven you, and trust Him to help you always be ready to forgive.

Today's Key Verse: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Get rid of bitterness