FEBRUARY 10, Hebrews 13:17

Rain splashed hard against the windshield. Gina sat back in her seat and watched the windshield wipers slapping the raindrops away. Soon the car slowed to a stop. Dad eased his window down just enough to talk with a man standing in the road, waving a flashlight. “The bridge ahead is washed out,” shouted the man above the roar of the rain. “You’ll need to take a different route.” He showed Dad where he could turn around.

Dad thanked the man and closed the window. “Well,” he said with a sigh, “we won’t be home quite as soon as we hoped, but it shouldn’t take too much longer.” He carefully turned the car around, and headed in the other direction.

“Dad,” Gina said the next morning at breakfast,“I just heard on the news that some people were hurt last night during the storm. They didn’t know the bridge was washed out and drove right off a big drop-off into the river.”

Dad placed a box of cereal on the table. “I heard the news, too,” he said. “I’m sure glad that man was there to warn us of danger ahead.” He smiled. “You know,” she added, “God often warns us when danger is ahead, too, and tells us to turn around.” “What do you mean?” Gina asked curiously. “Well, we often face choices in life–who to be close friends with,whether or not to cheat on a test in school, whether or not to tell a lie–things like that. When we are tempted to make the wrong choice, God always warns us to turn around. Sometimes He shows us something in the Bible to warn us of danger. Sometimes He uses parents or other Christians. If we obey Him, we will be kept safe. If we ignore his warning, we will end up hurt or in trouble.”

Gina sat at the table and looked out the kitchen window. Finally she said, “So instead of getting mad that we can’t do something the way we want to, we should be glad when we’re warned about it, right?”

“Right!” agreed Dad. “That’s exactly right!”

Thought: Do you pay attention when parents warn you against doing something wrong? Do you listen to warnings given by the pastor, teachers, or Christian friends? Sometimes they may tell you things you do not want to hear, but God has given them to you to help and protect you. He also uses the Bible, to instruct you and show you what things please Him. Read and obey what He says.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder today that I must obey instruction and warnings. Sometimes I get stubborn so please help me to realise disobedience is foolishness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.