JANUARY 17, MATTHEW 9:4 

Choon sat silently, his head pounding. If only he had listened to his parents and stayed away from the construction site. “How did you say this happened?” Dr Leong asked as he finished stitching Choon’s forehead.

“I was running home from school and tripped over a crack in the sidewalk,” Choon explained, hoping his face wouldn’t reveal the lie. He actually got hurt on some machinery at the construction site.

“Well, you should be okay,” said Dr Leong, “but I do want you to get an X-ray just to be on the safe side.”

Choon and his mother went to the hospital’s X-ray department. Choon’s head still throbbed. He wondered what it would be like to have an X-ray taken of his head. Suddenly Choon sat straight up. “Will this X-ray show my brain and all my thoughts?” he blurted out. As soon as he asked the question, he knew it was a foolish one.

“Relax, son,” said Mother, chuckling. “Are you afraid it might show thoughts that you don’t want anyone to see?” Choon didn’t answer. He put his head on his hands. He was glad the X-ray couldn’t show his thoughts. Then everyone would find out that he had lied.

By the time they were heading home,Choon was feeling better.“Your question back at the hospital reminds me of something,” observed Mother. “We should never forget that God sees all our thoughts just like you imagined the X-ray machine might have shown yours, Choon. There is nothing we can hide from Him.”

Choon nodded. “Yeah,” he said. He knew he should confess what had really happened. “I... I lied,” he admitted. “I hurt my head at the construction site along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. I’m sorry.” He was quite sure some punishment would be coming, but he felt better anyway.

Thought: Do you have thoughts that you would be ashamed for anyone else to know?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me that thinking evil thoughts or hiding secret sins in my mind is wrong. May You help me keep my thoughts honest and pure. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.