Read: 1 Samuel 3:4-11; Psalm 103:13-14

When the school bell rang, Xavier tossed his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door. He spotted his older brother, Malik, standing on the sidewalk.

“Hey, what’s up?” asked Malik as they headed for home.

“Not much.” Xavier kicked a plastic bottle, and it hit a parking meter.

“Did you get to shoot some hoops at recess?” asked Malik. Xavier nodded. “Sink any threes?”

“Yeah, but…” Xavier looked through the window of a coffee shop at all the people on their computers and cell phones. “There’s a new kid at school named Devon. I saw him when we were playing ball.”

“And?” Malik raised his eyebrows.

“Well, now I’m thinking he wanted to play. He just stood by the court watching us the whole time.”

“But you didn’t ask him to be on your team?”

Xavier shook his head. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it then.” He sighed, breathing in the smells of a Greek restaurant as they passed by.

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up over it.” Malik stopped at the crosswalk and turned his head to look down the street. A city bus whizzed by, then the light changed and they stepped into the road. “Do you remember that Bible story about the boy named Samuel? God called to him three separate times, and each time Samuel thought it was the priest calling him.”

“Yeah, I remember,” said Xavier.

“Well, what happened with the new kid at school today is kind of like that.”

Xavier gave his brother a puzzled look. “How?”

“Samuel didn’t realize it was God calling him the first three times he heard His voice,” said Malik. “But the fourth time, after the priest told him who it really was, he got it. He knew God was calling him and was able to listen and obey.” Malik waved at a guy with ear buds walking down the other side of the street.

“You didn’t realize Devon wanted to play at first, but now you know he did. So now you can do what God is calling you to do.”

“You mean I can ask Devon to play ball with us tomorrow,” said Xavier.

Malik clapped Xavier on the back. “Exactly.”

–Annika Klanderud

How about you? Do you ever wish you could go back and take advantage of a missed opportunity to be kind to someone? Jesus knows we’re only human and don’t always recognize ways to show His love to others. He forgives our mistakes and always gives us another chance. Ask Him to show you something you can do to share His love with someone today. Once you know what it is, do it!

Today's Key Verse: For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. (NKJV) Psalm 103:14

Today's Key Thought: Do what you know is right