Bad choices hurt

* You're wrestling with a friend and get dirty. You weren't supposed to wrestle. Do you tell your parents you were doing it, or lie and say you fell?

Those might sound like little things -- little lies, little selfish moments. But in this week's Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11), Jesus shows that little mistakes can quickly turn into big problems!

Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and didn't eat or drink the whole time. The devil came and said, "If you're God, turn the rocks into bread." Jesus said, "Bread isn't all that keeps you alive. God does, too." The devil took Jesus to the top of a building and said, "Jump. If you're God, the angels will catch you." "Don't test God," Jesus answered. The devil showed Jesus the whole world and said, "I'll give you this if you worship me." "You should worship only God," Jesus answered. "Go away!" And the devil left Jesus alone.

It didn't sound like a big deal for Jesus to make rocks into bread, either. He was hungry, and He had the power to do it. Why not jump off a building, too? God wouldn't let Him die yet.

The problem with lying or keeping someone's money is that you have to worry about it. If they find out, you're in trouble. You also know it's wrong. You want to be a good person, not disappoint God.

Jesus wanted to be good, too. Since He wanted to be like us, He couldn't go around making bread from rocks. Regular people can't do that. Jesus stood up to the devil -- and so can you! You don't have to do anything you know is wrong. Jesus showed that we can choose the good stuff!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me make choices that make you proud! Amen.