Published 11/19/19
By Greg Johnson
What If...
One of the best parts about being in grade school is the chance to spend the night with friends. You get a measure of freedom, can eat all night, watch movies... and be crazy (with limits, of course).
One Friday night, you’re at a birthday sleep-over. It’s just like always: pizza, presents, cake, games, videos, soda. Yep, you’re having a blast.
About midnight, the parents of the house say it’s time to start calming down. They say you can talk and leave the TV on, but no more loud noises. They want to go to bed, so if there’s any yelling or screaming, they’ll bring the hammer down. Well, that calms everyone down right away. But lying around in sleeping bags gets everyone going again.
“Ssshhh, you want us to get in trouble?” someone says.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea,” says the birthday kid. “Let’s be real quiet and sneak out the sliding glass door in the back. While you’re outside, I’ll grab some eggs and toilet paper, and we’ll go have some fun.”
Everyone starts putting on their shoes and heading toward the door. Even though you know the kid’s parents (and yours) would flip if they knew you were out that late doing this stuff, no one says anything about whether or not this is such a great idea.
Questions to Think On
• It sounds like you’re stuck. You either go... or stay there by yourself (which wouldn’t look too good). What is something you could say to keep everyone from getting into trouble?
• If you were able to bring everyone back to reality, what would that protect them from in the future?
• How do you react when the crowd wants to do one thing that isn’t a good idea, and you know the right thing to do?
• Mom and Dad: What will the consequences be when you find out that your child snuck out at this sleep-over and egged and TP’d houses?
What Does God Have to Say?
My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
(c)
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