13 March | Teens
«And so it was that all who saw it said, ‘No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!’» Judges 19:30
The story we are going to tell you today is very sad and shows what happens when people turn away from God. It tells of a Levite and his concubine, who traveled together but ended up in a dire situation in the city of Gibeah. The people of that city, who had strayed from God’s ways, treated them in a horrible manner.
The man was so saddened by what happened that he decided to tell the whole world, so that everyone could see how important it was to get back to following the ways of goodness that God wants for us. He wanted everyone to understand that when we turn away from love and respect, very bad things can happen.
God wants us to live lovingly and thoughtfully with others. He teaches us to treat everyone with respect and dignity, for we are all His children. When we turn away from God, we forget these basic principles and can end up doing bad things that we never imagined doing.
This story is a sobering reminder to all of us about the importance of staying close to God and following His ways. The closer we are to God, the more we reflect His love and goodness in the world. The further we drift away, the more we lose ourselves in actions that can hurt ourselves and others.
Take Action
Today, take a moment to think about how you can draw closer to God. It can be through prayer, reading the Bible, or helping someone in need. Make a small gesture of kindness to someone, showing God’s love through your actions. Remember, even a small act of kindness can make a big difference.