December 12 - Headline News
December 12
Headline News
Bible Reading: Leviticus 26:3-12
3‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them,4then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. 7You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. 8Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. 9‘For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. 10You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. 11I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. 12I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
IMAGINE PICKING UP the newspaper tomorrow morning and seeing these headlines:
"Crime Rate Plummets"
"Crack Addict Returns $1,000 Found in Trash Can"
"Largest Bank in the World Leaves Safe Unlocked--Every Night"
"Shoplifting Comes to an End As Stores Drop Prices"
"Gas Stations Now Operating on Honor System"
"Burglar Alarms, Home Security Systems Become Obsolete"
"Insurance Companies Stop All Fraud Investigations; Insurance More Affordable Than Ever"
"Last Metal Detectors at Airport Phased Out; 'Not Needed Anymore,' Says Security Chief
That would be pretty wild, wouldn't it? But it would be totally predictable--if everyone in the world were to suddenly become honest. You wouldn't have to walk through metal detectors at the airport. You could leave the store without asking a clerk to take that white "security clip" thing off when you buy a piece of clothing. You wouldn't have to lock your house, your car, or your school locker.
It would be pretty cool, wouldn't it? That gives you an idea of the wisdom of God's commands. If we all obeyed God, this world would be a totally different--and much better--place. As the Word says, "People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall" (Proverbs 10:9).
But, of course, the world's not going to become honest overnight. It won't even become honest little by little. But you and I can. We can follow God and obey his commands not to lie, not to cheat, and not to steal. That won't change the world, but it sure will change us (and even some of the people around us). And that's pretty cool, too.
REFLECT: It can be fun to think about how the world would be different if everyone was honest. But take a few minutes to think about this: How might your world (your family, your friendships, your school, and so on) be different if you were honest every day? if you and your family were honest? if you, your family, and your friends were honest?
ACT: Keep a newspaper on your desk, in your book bag, or in your school locker today to remind you of the wisdom and benefits of following God's command to be honest.
PRAY: "Lord, You say that people of integrity have firm footing. Please help me each day to keep my footing firmly placed in honesty."