Anyone For Garbage?
ANYONE FOR GARBAGE?
Read Philippians 4:4-9.
When Harrison came home from school, he was very hungry. He hadn’t had an after-school snack because he had stayed for soccer practice. He peered into the pot of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove. “My favorite!” He smacked his lips. “When do we eat?”
“In fifteen minutes,” answered Grandma. “I have some chores for you to do first.”
By the time Harrison finished his chores, he was starved. Grandma had one more chore for him—taking out the garbage. Before handing it to him she said, “Wait a minute.” Then, taking a plate off the table, she carefully scooped some of the garbage from the bag onto the plate.
Harrison stared in disbelief at the peelings, coffee grounds, and leftovers heaped together in one soggy mess. “What in the world is that for?” he asked in surprise.
“This is your dinner,” said Grandma.
“My dinner!” He stared at his grandmother. “I can’t eat smelly garbage!”
Grandma said, “Garbage is what you’re feeding your mind, so I figured we could feed garbage to your body, too.” She took some magazines from the top of the refrigerator. “I found these under your blankets when I changed the sheets today. It upset me—so think how the Lord must feel about your reading these.”
Harrison knew his grandma was right. Those magazines and the pictures in them were garbage. His mind shouldn’t feed on them. Ever since he’d bought them, he’d felt guilty and unhappy. “I’ll throw them out right now, Grandma,” he said. “And I won’t buy any more. Honest.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you refuse to look at pictures in magazines, on TV, or on the Internet that make your mind and heart dirty? If not, ask God to forgive you for feeding your mind on the world’s garbage. Ask Him to help you think about pure, good things instead.
TO MEMORIZE:
I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.
Psalm 101:3
THINK ABOUT GOOD THINGS.
From the book
