SEPTEMBER 8, Matthew 7:24

“Mom, l can’t get the toaster to work,” called Jason. Receiving no answer, he went to the room where his mother was ironing. “I want to make some toast, but I can’t get the toaster to work,” said Jason. “It doesn’t heat up.”

“Is it plugged in?” asked Mom. “Plugged in?” repeated Jason. “I guess so, it always is. But I’ll go check.” Jason went back to the kitchen and saw that it was not plugged in. Oops! he thought. No wonder it didn’t work. He plugged in the toaster, put two pieces of raisin bread into it, and soon enjoyed perfectly browned, buttered toast.

In Sunday school class the next morning, Jason’s teacher held up his Bible. “I’m sure you all learnt long ago that you should read your Bible every day, right?” askedTeacher June. Heads nodded. “Good,” Teacher June continued. “I hope you do that, but are you aware that just reading the Bible isn’t enough? What you read needs to be plugged into your life.”

“Plugged into my life?” asked Samantha. “What do you mean by that?” Jason raised his hand. “I have an example of something that needed to be plugged in,” he said. “I was trying to make toast yesterday, but the toaster wouldn’t work. When I checked, I found out that it wasn’t plugged in.”

“I know about plugging in toasters,” said Samantha, “but I still don’t get how we plug the Bible into our lives.” She grinned. “The Bible doesn’t have a cord.”

Teacher June smiled. “When something is plugged in, it’s useful and there is a change,” she said. “Toasters change the bread that’s put into them. The Bible was meant to change us, so... plugging it into your life means letting it change you as you do what it says. For instance, if you read, ‘Obey your parents,’ but then try to get out of doing your chores, you’re not letting what the Bible says change you.”

“But if I read, ‘Forgive one another,’ and then I do forgive somebody who treated me badly, does it mean I’ve plugged in what I read?” asked Jason. “You’ve got it!” said Teacher June. “This week, let’s not just read the Bible. Let’s plug it in by allowing it to change our lives as we obey it.”

Thought: Am I “plugged into” the Bible? Has the Bible change my attitudes and actions?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to be wise. Help me to remember that while it is good to read the Bible, simply reading it isn’t enough. As I read it each day, may I put into practice the things that I read! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.