Beware!
BEWARE!
Read James 1:13-15.
“Hey, Taylor,” whispered Kirk. “Look over there by the bushes.”
“Wow!” Taylor whispered back. “Mr. Jones has a new dog. He’s big, but he looks harmless.”
“We’ll still take our regular shortcut through his backyard,” said Kirk.
“But look, Kirk.” Taylor pointed to a sign on a tree. “It says, ‘Beware of the Dog.’”
“Sure! Just look at that baby face!” exclaimed Kirk as he slowly walked toward the dog. The dog began to growl. “Nice doggy,” said Kirk.
“Hey, Kirk,” warned Taylor, “maybe we’d better not go any closer. That’s a long chain!”
“He’s as gentle as a lamb,” Kirk said.
Suddenly, the dog made a dash for Kirk. “Help!” yelled Kirk as he tried to free his pant leg from the dog’s teeth.
The boys heard a shout. “What are you doing in my backyard?” Mr. Jones asked angrily as he walked toward his dog. “Come here, Max!” Max wagged his tail and trotted to his master. “You boys should read signs more carefully,” Mr. Jones spoke firmly. “Max may look gentle, and most of the time he is, but he’s been known to scare a few people. Warnings are given for a reason. Obey them.”
Kirk and Taylor were quiet as they walked home. “Kirk,” Taylor broke the silence, “Mr. Jones sounded a lot like Pastor Parker.”
Kirk nodded. They were remembering last Sunday’s message. “Sin may look harmless,” Pastor Parker had said. “But God warns against all sin. Say no when Satan tempts you.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Would you like to be like “everybody else” once in a while? Do you think it wouldn’t hurt you to go where they go and do what they do, even though you know it wouldn’t please the Lord? You’re wrong. God warns that sin has dreadful consequences. Heed His warning and live for Him.
TO MEMORIZE:
These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
James 1:15
BEWARE OF SIN.
From the book
