NOVEMBER 15, Joshua 10:25

Joshua’s Sunday School teacher had given the class a written quiz. “Oh, no!” whispered Joshua as he was handing up his paper. “I should have put seven, not five, in this blank. When Daniel’s friends were thrown into the furnace, it was heated seven times hotter than usual.”

“I’ll change that answer for you,” said Teacher Molly. She turned to the class. “Ask God to help you make right choices this week,” she said, “and next week, be ready to share with us about a choice that took you courage to make.”

That lunchtime, Joshua was oblivious to the people around him. He was day dreaming about some heroic acts he could do. He looked at his little sister. “Maybe I can save her from kidnappers this week,” he thought. “I’ll trip one of them and then... naah! That’s not going to happen! I know! I’ll rescue Mrs. Lee’s big, gray cat if it climbs too high up a tree.” Joshua sighed. That timid cat would never do that. “So what courageous thing can I do?”

Joshua had other things on his mind during the week, and he didn’t think about courage again – not until Saturday morning when he went to the grocery store with his father. The cashier forgot to charge them for one item. So Dad told her about it. “Dad, did that take courage?” asked Joshua as they headed to the car.

“No, not really,” replied Dad. “It was just the right thing to do – but I must admit that it often does take courage to do the right thing.”

On hearing his dad, Joshua’s stomach seemed to churn as guilt overcame him. It was a feeling he had been struggling with all week. There was something he had to do, and it would take much courage.

On Sunday morning, Joshua hurried to his classroom. Only his teacher was there. “Teacher Molly,” he began, “I... I...” Joshua swallowed hard. “I didn’t really know the right answer that you changed for me. I saw it on Jill’s paper.”

Teacher Molly looked serious, but she gave him a pat on the back. “It was hard to tell me that, wasn’t it?” she asked. “I’m so glad you had the courage to admit what you did.

Thought: Do I have the courage to admit my mistakes and ask for forgiveness or am I a coward who would cover up my wrongdoings?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please give me the courage to always do what is right. If I have done wrong, help me confess my sin, put the matter behind me and never do it again. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.