[0:00]really love. Let me see your hands. Yes, I do too. And don't they just don't you just want to make them happy with anything that you can, right? Because you love them, right? Well, today, we have a story about some young children. And these children, man, they're so happy. They're all organized. Look at them, don't they look nice? This is happy young children. And you know, their parents, they love them too, but one day they came to their children with some terrible news. children. Yes, yes, yes. Okay, we have some very sad news for you. Father and I have to go away. Grandma's really sick. But we're leaving you all in charge to do some things, okay? Now, my oldest, I want you to cook this food, Denise. Okay? You have to make sure all these children eat, have good food, okay? Yashira, you need to wash the dishes. Okay? you take care of baby. All right. And B, you're going to wash the clothes. I don't want any of these clothes stinking, okay? Happy duties, no to do. Yes, and my son, my son's of honor. I love you all. Phillip, I want you to cut the grass. We don't want the neighbors complaining. We need to grass. Looking nice. And Kojo, my friends, the trash must be taken out. Or else the house will be stinking. I'm ready, dad. Yes. I want you to take out the trash. And my oldest son. I'm very proud of you. And I want you to make sure the family has devotion in the morning and in the evening. God has to be first. No exception. Every morning and every day. Okay. So you see this clean house, right? I wanted to stay like that when we come back. And you love us. Yes. So if you love us, you're going to do what we ask you to, right? Yes. Okay. We'll see you. And so mom and dad make their way down to their appointment. And the kids they immediately got to work because they love their parents. And so they wanted to make sure that everything was just like they said. Some of them were mowing the lawn. Some were taking out the trash. People washing the clothes, doing their dishes, washing the baby, and cooking. And they did this all day. And at the end of their day, they were tired. And so right before bed, they came together for devotion. All right, my brothers and sisters, come on. We're going to have a devotion before we go to bed. All right. We're going to gather now. Today was a good day, wasn't it? I miss mom and dad already. All right, we'll we're going to look in the Bible at John, St. John chapter 14 and verse 15. And it says, if you love me, keep my command. Can you guys say that with me? If you love me, keep my commands. So God is saying that if you love him, you will obey him. All right? Remember that. Well, let's go to bed because we got an early morning. And so they went to sleep on that night. And early the next morning, got up for their daily duties. And so, after, you know, coming together for devotion. All right. Good morning, everyone. This morning, we have a wonderful devotion. Guess what it's coming from? John 14:15. And it says, if you love me, keep my commandments. Can you say that with me? If you love me, keep my commandments. So today, we must remember to keep God's commandments. Remember also mom and dad gave us some instructions, so we want to obey because we love them, right? Okay, so the kids went on their work, doing exactly what the mom and dad told them to do, and they had been doing this for a long time. Days and weeks they had been doing the same thing. Everyone was so faithful, watching the baby cooking, cleaning the dishes, the clothes, mowing the lawn, and they were helping each other and encouraging each other. And then, one day, something would change. Okay, everybody, it's almost time for bed. Come on over. Come on over. Oh, hey, today was a good day, right? So, we're going to close the night with a devotion. And this time, I want you guys really to pay attention to the good part. It's coming from John 14, verse 15. And it says, if you love me, keep my commandments. All right? Remember that. Now, um, you guys, you can go ahead and go to bed. I'll see you guys in the morning. All right. I'm going to stay up. Well, you know, I have the basketball game tomorrow. And so, I need to watch Kobe Bryant real quick so I can get his drive. If you're going to stay up, I'll stay up too. I like basketball. Me too.
[5:51]Let's watch more. Let's watch. And so, all the kids stayed up, watching TV. First, they watched basketball, then they started watching movies. And then they ate popcorn. They did all kinds of stuff. They started playing games. And, you know what, before you know it, it was 10:00 at night. And then it was 11:00 at night.
[6:17]And before you know it, it's 12:00 in the morning. 1:00 in the morning. 2:00 in the morning. Finally, 3:00 a.m. These kids finally go to sleep. But you know, they still had to get up in the morning. So, shortly after that, 7:00. Their alarm kept ringing.
[6:54]Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. I'm late. Listen, uh, Kojo, what's your chore again? Just just do something. You guys, do something. Make sure the food is cooked, dishes, lawn. Wake them up. Wake them up. I got to go. Devotion. You know John 14 15.
[7:22]Well, look, if Tyler is not doing devotion, taking out the trash. If you're not doing the trash, I'm not doing the laundry. Well, if you're not doing laundry, I'm not cooking anything.
[7:37]If you're not cooking, it's no reason for me to clean the dishes. If you're not doing the dishes, I'm not watching the baby. So, everybody did what they wanted to do.
[7:51]And so, some people stayed asleep, people were playing. And then, you know what, because no one was doing what they were supposed to do, things got dirty. The house started to get dirty. They started to smell because no one was washing their clothes. They started to get skinny because nobody was eating. They even were getting a little cranky. People started pushing each other. Things were just getting crazy. And then, it was in this state that mom and dad came home.
[8:24]Hey, kids. Yes.
[8:29]That's not my house. Whose house is it? Who's going to explain? Somebody talk up. This house is a mess. All of you stink. So skinny, look at baby.
[8:48]Well, hello, somebody. I didn't mow the lawn because uh Tyra wasn't washing the baby, so the baby was playing in the lawn. Well, I didn't mow, mommy.
[9:14]I didn't watch the dishes because Nise didn't cook and mommy, I'm hungry. Well, Mommy, I didn't. Well, I didn't cook any food because Phoebe didn't do any laundry.
[9:41]Dad, I didn't take out the trash. Because Tyra didn't do the devotion. It's Tyra's fault. Tyra's fault. I didn't do the devotion, dad. I didn't do the devotion. I'm very disappointed in you, Tyra. You guys said you loved us.
[10:02]We expected you guys to do what we said. And so we had, we expected you guys to listen, so we had you bought you these gifts. So because you guys did not behave and listen to what we actually do, we won't be able to give you these gifts. But because we are family and we still love you, even though you disobeyed, we're going to clean up this mess together, and then we'll see about the gifts. Let's come together. So, yes. So we see from this skit, boys and girls,
[10:45]that the things that God asked us to do are very important. Just like the parents gave their kids rules and things that they wanted their children to do, God has given us things that he wants us to do, and it's found in the Ten Commandments. Did you notice what happened when they didn't obey? Things got bad, they started to fight, they started to smell bad. And in the same way, God gives us these rules so that we can be happy and healthy. God loves us, boys and girls, and he wants us to do the right thing because we love him. What does our verse say? John 14:15, if you love me, keep my commandments. And that's what Jesus wants us to do. He wants us to obey his commandments because we love him. So how many of you today want to do that for God because you love him? Amen. Amen. So give our acts a hand.
