At nine years old, I stood in my Dad’s office supply room in the half-light, in my mind risking eternal salvation for a shiny metal box to hold my rock collection. In the days after I stole the box, I tried to justify my actions. I’ll never forget the dichotomy of my parents’ response during a Sunday lunch when I confessed my hidden sin. Mom was appalled. However, in the other corner my politician dad came through like a champ, saying, “I own the office and everything in it. You’re entitled to take whatever you need, including the shiny metal box.”

I left the table liking Dad’s theology a lot more than Mom’s. It was less convicting.

What’s your shiny metal box? Are you justifying something that has come between you and God? Surrender it to the Restorer today. Joshua said, “Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD” (Joshua 24:23).

For more, watch The Restoration Road with Mitch Kruse, Episode 4: The Dirt Road: If I Can Get You Convinced, I Can Get Them Convinced.

To share this devotional visit our archive.