Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families

Read: Colossians 1:15-20

Judah stomped into his brother’s room. “You are not going to believe this, Isaac!” Judah was so angry his ears were red.

Isaac closed the book he was reading. “What’s the matter?”

“Just look at my new interactive robot!” The robot’s arm dangled from its side. “That’s the last time I ever let Sam use one of my toys. Do you know how much I paid for this?” Judah shook his head. “That guy has no respect for other people’s stuff!”

The next morning, Isaac and Judah were late for school. “Here.” Isaac tossed Judah a granola bar. “We don’t have time for breakfast, so eat this on the way.”

As the brothers took a shortcut through a neighbor’s backyard, Judah ate his granola bar in just three bites, then tossed the wrapper on the ground.

“Hey!” Isaac stopped and pointed to the wrapper “That’s littering! Go pick it up.”

“Oh, come on. It’s just one wrapper, Isaac.”

“It’s not your yard, Judah. How do you think the neighbors would feel if they saw you dropping trash in their yard?”

Judah sighed and picked up the wrapper. “I guess I wasn’t thinking.”

“Yeah,” said Isaac. “Kind of like Sam wasn’t thinking when he broke your robot.”

On Sunday, Mrs. Rawlings gave a lesson on creation. “God made everything,” she said. “But because our sin has made a mess of everything, Jesus is making everything new—not just the people who trust in Him, but one day, all of creation! Everything belongs to Jesus, and He wants us to enjoy everything He’s made. But we also need to respect that it belongs to Him and take good care of it.”

I know what it’s like to have someone not respect your stuff, thought Judah. I wouldn’t want to do that with God’s stuff!

The next morning, as Isaac and Judah passed by a neighbor’s yard on their way to school, Judah saw a plastic bag blowing across the grass. “I got it!” he called out. He raced over and stepped on it before it blew away, then placed it in the trash can at the end of the driveway.

“Hey!” shouted their neighbor from the porch. “Thanks for cleaning our yard!”

“No problem!” Judah shouted back. “And actually, it belongs to Jesus!”

–Kelly Carlson

How about you? Do you respect what doesn’t belong to you? Jesus created everything in the world around you—trees, grass, land, animals—and will one day make everything new and even better than it is now! Everything belongs to Him, and He wants you to help take care of what He’s made. How can you be respectful and take care of God’s beautiful creation?

Today's Key Verse: The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. Acts 17:24 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Care for God’s creation

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-19; 13:4

Anna came home from yet another lost softball game. As she walked past the living room cabinet, she saw her sister’s softball trophies. Macy’s team was undefeated. Anna sighed as she walked upstairs.

“Macy, have you started your math homework?” asked Anna.

“Started? I already finished. It’s easy,” said Macy.

Macy was in the advanced track at school. Anna was not. As Anna opened her binder to her math assignment, she felt a knot in her stomach. She couldn’t remember how to do the problems. She slammed her binder shut, put her head on her desk, and cried.

Anna heard a knock at her bedroom door. “Go away,” she said through tears.

Macy opened the door anyway. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“What’s wrong is that no matter how hard I try, you’re always there being a know-it-all!” yelled Anna.

“I’m not a know-it-all!” Macy yelled back and slammed the door.

“Who slammed that door?” Mom asked.

“I did,” said Macy, “because Anna called me a know-it-all.”

“Girls, come out here, please,” said Mom. Anna and Macy stepped out of their rooms.

“I have an idea,” Mom said. “Let’s play softball in the backyard.”

“But we don’t have any infielders,” said Macy.

“Or enough people for the basemen,” added Anna.

“We need people with different strengths to make a whole team, don’t we?” said Mom. “That’s true for more than just sports. As Christians, God has given each of us different strengths so we can work together to spread the good news of Jesus and show others His love. He made each of you girls to be smart and talented in your own way, and He loves you so much that Jesus died for you. Math might be harder for you, Anna, but Dad and I are so proud of you for winning your school’s essay contest.”

“I know.” Anna sighed. “I’m sorry for calling you a know-it-all, Macy.”

“I forgive you,” Macy said. “Would you like me to help you with your math homework?”

Anna smiled. “I’ll trade you homework help for the painting I made today.”

“Deal,” said Macy.

–Alexa Fetterly

How about you? Have you ever felt jealous of someone else? It’s easy to compare ourselves to friends and siblings, but God created each of us with unique gifts so we can show His love to others in our own special way. Jesus thought that you, in all your uniqueness, were worth dying for—that’s how much He loves you! Let Him replace your jealousy with love so you can use your gifts alongside other Christians to point people to Him.

Today's Key verse: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Today's Key thought: God made you unique for a purpose

Read: John 15:12-15

“I can’t believe Aanya would do this to me!” Lucy pulled the friendship bracelet off her wrist and dropped it in the trash.

“Lucy? Are you okay?” her mother asked. “Why are you throwing away your bracelet from Aanya?”

“I thought she was my friend.” Lucy hung her backpack up on its hook and sat down at the table. “But she told my secret to the entire class. Even the boys!”

“What secret?” asked Mom. Lucy told her, and Mom sighed. “I’m sorry, Lu.” Mom thought for a moment. “Do you have any more of the thread you use to make bracelets?”

Lucy nodded. She got up and brought the box of brightly colored threads to the table. Mom started looking through the threads and picking some out.

“What are you doing?” Lucy asked.

“I’m making you a friendship bracelet. It will remind you that you always have a friend, one who will never betray you.” Mom began twisting the strands together. She pointed to a dark thread. “This friend loves you even though you’ve done bad things and will always love you no matter what you do.”

“Is it you?” Lucy asked.

“No. Even though I love you very much, this person loves you even more.” Mom picked up a red thread. “He died to save you from your sins.” She held up a white one and a green one. “He washed you clean of sin and gave you new life.”

“I know who my friend is! It’s Jesus!” Lucy exclaimed. “And the bracelet has the same colors as the wordless book I made at church. The gold stands for the streets of gold in heaven.”

“Yes, Jesus loved you enough to give His life so you could have eternal life with Him. He loves you so much, Lucy. He’ll always be there for you, even when no one else is.” She reached over and slipped the bracelet onto Lucy’s wrist. “You can wear this as a reminder that Jesus is the best friend you’ll ever have.”

Lucy looked at the bracelet. “Since Jesus is such a good friend to me, maybe I should give Aanya another chance.”

Mom smiled and gave Lucy a hug. “That’s a great idea. Jesus will be with you as you show His forgiveness to Aanya.”

–Jessica Kleeberger

How about you? Have you ever been disappointed by someone? Maybe it was a friend, a parent, a brother, or a sister. The good news is that God’s children have a friend who will never let them down. That friend is Jesus Christ! He loved you enough to die for you so you could have eternal life with Him. You can trust Him as your very best friend. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today's Key Verse: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Jesus is the ultimate best friend

Read: Hebrews 4:14-16

Bryson wrote something on a piece of paper, then crumpled it up and threw it in the trash can. He did this several times, and before long he was out of paper. He laid his head on his desk in frustration.

Just then Mom walked by. “What’s wrong, Bryson?”

“I’m all out of paper. Can we go to the store so I can get some more?”

Mom glanced at the crumpled balls of paper in and around the trash can. “What are you trying to write?”

“Our Sunday school teacher challenged us to write an encouraging letter to someone. I immediately thought of Dylan. He’s been really upset lately about his parents getting a divorce. So I’ve been trying to write him a letter, but everything I write sounds dumb.” Bryson picked up a ball of paper and handed it to his mother. “You can read one of my attempts if you want.”

Mom uncrumpled the paper. “Hey, Dylan. Sorry your parents are getting a divorce. Hope you have a good day anyway.”

“See, Mom? Everything sounds so dumb, and I don’t know what I can say to make Dylan feel better. I have no idea what he’s going through, but I know it must be hard.” Bryson sighed. “And now I’m all out of paper.”

“I’m sorry, Bryson,” Mom said. “I have no idea how to make paper, so I can’t help you.”

Bryson frowned. “Mom, I don’t need you to make me paper. I just need you to take me to a place where I can get some.”

Mom nodded. “You’re exactly right—and it’s the same with Dylan. He doesn’t need you to solve his problems. He just needs you to take them to someone who can—God. Jesus understands what Dylan is going through and loves him so much that He suffered and died to save him. He knows exactly what Dylan needs. The biggest encouragement you can give Dylan is to tell him you’re praying for him and then do it.” She smiled. “I’ll pick up some more paper at the store tomorrow. In the meantime, why don’t you take Dylan’s problems to Jesus in prayer?”

Bryson nodded, and after Mom left, he bowed his head and said a prayer for Dylan.

–Melissa Yeagle

How About You? Do you know someone who’s going through a hard time? Even though you may want to, you can’t solve everyone’s problems. The best thing you can do for a friend in need is take their problems to God in prayer. He may direct you to help them in other ways too, but ultimately He’s the only one able to give them what they need. Encourage your friend by letting them know you’re praying for them.

Today's Key Verse: God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Pray for those who are hurting

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 37:5-9, 39-40

Mallory blew her nose. Again. “Mom, how long do allergies last?” she asked as they drove away from
the doctor’s office.

Mom smiled sympathetically. “The doctor said you have seasonal allergies, so you’ll probably have them the next couple of months.”

“Great,” said Mallory glumly. She felt stuffed up, and her head was foggy.

“I know you don’t feel well,” Mom said. “We’ll be home soon.”

As they drove across a bridge, a blanket of fog seemed to come up out of nowhere and surround them. Mallory peered out the window, trying see the water below the bridge, but it was like everything had disappeared.

“I can hardly see a thing,” Mom muttered as she turned on the headlights. She slowed down and carefully steered the car over the bridge.

A few minutes later they were off the bridge and heading home. Mallory couldn’t believe how quickly it went from being so foggy to clear skies and sunshine. She turned around to watch the fog slowly float away behind them. “Wow, that was crazy, Mom! Weren’t you scared driving over the bridge when you could hardly see?”

Mom nodded. “It was a little scary, but as long as I kept my eyes focused on what was in front of me, I knew we’d get to the other side of the bridge eventually.” She turned the headlights off and headed into the sunshine. “You know, Mallory, faith can sometimes be foggy too,” she said thoughtfully.

“How can faith be foggy?” Mallory asked.

“Even though we have Jesus in our lives, there will sometimes be days when we won’t feel joyful or know what to do about a tough situation. That’s when we need to depend on God to show us the way through our foggy faith.”

“How do we do that?” asked Mallory.

“By keeping our focus on Jesus. We can do that by listening to what He says to us in the Bible and talking to Him about everything. Even when we can’t see what’s in front of us, we can hold on to God’s promises and what we know is true. Jesus will always be with us in the fog, and we can trust Him to bring us out on the other side.”

–Kelly Hope

How about you? Are you going through a foggy time in your faith? Maybe you’re not feeling very joyful or you’re facing difficulties in life. Keep talking to Jesus in prayer and reading your Bible to get to know Him better. Remember that He saved you by dying for your sin, and trust Him to help you get through the fog and show you the next step to take.

Today's Key Verse: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus in foggy times