Summary: Jeff loved spending summer vacation with his cousin Rob--except for the time each evening when Uncle Paul called them together for family devotions. "You don't really believe all that religious stuff, do you?" Jeff asked Rob one night from the bed across the room. "Sure I do--but it's not 'religious stuff'!" replied Rob. "It's what the Bible says." "How can you believe some of those Bible stories--like about men walking in fire and not being burned or crossing a sea and not getting wet," mocked Jeff. "They're true stories," insisted Rob. "They really happened." Jeff shrugged and turned over to go to sleep. The next day, Uncle Paul took the boys canoeing. As Aunt Mary drove them to the river, Rob read a bumper sticker aloud: "If God said it, I believe it, and it's so." "It should just say, 'If God said it, it's so,'" commented Uncle Paul. "What God said is so, whether I believe it or not." Aunt Mary and Rob nodded, but Jeff acted as if he hadn't heard. "Okay, guys. Have fun, and I'll pick you up at Potters' Landing," said Aunt Mary when they reached the canoe launch site. Soon Uncle Paul and the boys were floating downstream. "This water's not very deep," said Jeff. "I can see the bottom." Uncle Paul chuckled. "It's deeper than it looks, Jeff," he said. "I'm sure it's over your head." "Na-a-ah. I don't believe it," scoffed Jeff. "Duck!" Rob exclaimed suddenly as they floated under a low-hanging branch. They all ducked, but the canoe was thrown off-balance and tipped, spilling them into the water. They came up spitting and sputtering--and laughing. "Stand up, Jeff," called Rob. "I can't!" Jeff called back. "I can't touch the bottom." "Let's get this canoe right side up," said Uncle Paul. They all helped, and soon they were again paddling downstream. "That water was deeper than I thought," admitted Jeff. "It was deep whether you believed it or not, wasn't it?" observed Uncle Paul. "Yeah, Jeff. Not believing it didn't change the fact," Rob added. "The same is true of the Bible." Jeff grinned sheepishly as Rob repeated, "If God said it, it's so!" How About You? Do you believe what God says in the Bible--all of it? Do you believe what it says about Jesus, God's Son? About you?It says you are a sinner, but Jesus died to take the punishment for you. God says if you do not believe on Jesus, you are "condemned already," but if you will believe, you are no longer condemned. Not believing the truth will not change it. Believe on Jesus. Ask Him to save you today. (See the ABCs of Salvation here: http://www.cbhministries.org/ForKids/ABCsofSalvation.aspx.) Today's Key Verse: Will . . . unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! (Romans 3:3-4) Today's Key Thought: God's Word is true--believe it
