Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:3-8

"Wanna come to church with me this week, Finn?" asked Tobin, who was at his cousin's house for the day. "We're studying the life of Jesus in my Sunday school class, and I think you'd really like it!"

"Nah," muttered Finn. "I don't like church."

"How do you know?" asked Tobin. "You've never been there."

"I just know I won't like it, that's all. Let's go see what's for dinner." Finn led the way to the kitchen, where he peered over his mother's shoulder. "Salmon patties, yum!"

Tobin frowned, then felt embarrassed when he realized his aunt had noticed.

"Don't you like salmon patties, Tobin?" Aunt Kim asked.

Tobin shook his head. "No, not really."

"Have you ever eaten one?" asked Aunt Kim. Again Tobin shook his head.

"Then how do you know you don't like them?" asked Finn.

Tobin shrugged. "I just know, that's all."

Finn rolled his eyes. "Salmon patties are so good! But hey, if you don't want any, I'll eat yours."

"Before you do that, I think Tobin really should try one," said Aunt Kim.

"Yeah, give it a try," said Finn. "You might like it, Tobin."

Tobin started to protest but then stopped abruptly. "Okay, you win," he said, grinning. "I'll try a salmon patty."

"All right!" Finn gave him a fist bump. "I know you're gonna like it."

When they sat down to dinner, Tobin hesitantly cut into his salmon patty. He put it in his mouth and chewed slowly. "Not bad," was his verdict. He eagerly ate the rest. "I think I'll have some more!" Aunt Kim smiled and passed him the patties.

"You know, this reminds me of a verse I learned at church," Tobin said as he helped himself to another patty. "It says, 'Taste and see that the Lord is good.' The Bible tells us that when we get to know Jesus, He'll show us how good He is and how much He loves us. That's why I love church--it's a place to learn more about Jesus with others who have seen His goodness and love too." He grinned at his cousin. "Well?"

Finn looked at him thoughtfully. "Okay, I get what you're saying," he said. "Mom, can I go to church with Tobin this week? I want to give it a try."

–Barbara J. Westberg

Bible Reading: Romans 14:7-13

Hattie lay on her bed in the dark, thinking about Uncle Dale. He was in the hospital, badly hurt. He might even die. "Cleo," she whispered, "are you asleep?"

"No," came the answer from the other bed. "I wish Mom and Dad would get home from the hospital."

"Dad said the driver of the other car was drunk." Hattie's voice broke. She sobbed softly. "It's not fair! Uncle Dale might die, and that other man is walking around perfectly okay."

When their parents finally arrived home, the girls were still awake. Dad came and knelt between their beds. "First," he said, "I want you to know that Uncle Dale is doing a little better. And I met the driver of the other car tonight. He's very sorry and upset."

"Well, he should be," said Cleo. "That man should be put in jail--forever!"

"He may have to go to jail," said Dad. "He told me he was a Christian, but--"

"I don't believe that!" Hattie interrupted.

"He said his friends talked him into drinking tonight," Dad continued. "He could have chosen not to drink and drive, but he didn't. Now he's very sorry, but he can't take back what happened. He knows he deserves to be punished."

"No Christian would do what he did," said Hattie.

"Christians sin, Hattie," Dad reminded her. "We all do things that are wrong, and people are affected by our actions whether we like to think so or not."

"I guess that's true," said Cleo. "Remember when my friend Sophie didn't want to come to Bible club with me at first? She said it was because Christians weren't any different from other people. She knew some Christian kids who lied and cheated on tests and did stuff like that just as much as other kids did."

Dad nodded. "Our sins don't just affect us--they affect others too. Sometimes they hurt someone else directly, like what happened to Uncle Dale when that man decided to drink and drive tonight. Other times they hurt others' perception of what it means to be a Christian. The good news is that Jesus promises to forgive our wrongs and help us do what's right. The next time you're tempted to do something you shouldn't, think of who else it might hurt besides you. Then trust God to help you make the right decision."

–Alyssa Liljequis

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:12; Romans 13:8-10

Elodie's heart ached as she got ready for school. "No one ever talks to me at school," she told her parents at breakfast. "I hate it here! We've lived here six weeks, and I still don't have one friend--not one!"

"Elodie, when I was a kid I learned a little poem that I think you need to apply to your life," Mom said. "It says, 'I went looking for a friend, but not one could be found. I went out to be a friend, and friends were all around.'"

Elodie wiped her hands on a napkin. "What does that mean?"

"It means you shouldn't think so much about finding a friend and instead focus on being a friend," Mom explained. "Start looking for someone who needs a friend instead of waiting for them to come to you."

Dad nodded. "In the Bible, Jesus says to do to others what we would want them to do to us. I know it can be scary to reach out to people you don't know when you're the new one at school, but you can start by being a friend like Jesus to the kids in your class. He reached out to us in love before we were His friends, and we can do the same to others. Trust Him to help you do that, and we'll pray that He will bring the right friends into your life."

As Elodie got out of the car at school, Dad gave her an encouraging smile. "Be friendly today," he said. "I'll be praying for you on my way to work."

As Dad drove away, Elodie noticed a girl going up the walk. That looks like the girl who sits across from me in math, she thought. What's her name? Oh yeah--Nadia. She doesn't seem to do much with the other kids. Maybe she doesn't have any friends either. Maybe...

"Nadia!" called Elodie. "Wait up. Can I walk with you?"

Nadia looked up. "Sure," she said, surprised. "You're new here, aren't you? I am too. I've been here seven weeks, and you're the first person who's really talked to me."

A warm feeling filled Elodie, and it drove out the cold, lonely ache. Mom and Dad were right, she thought. God, please help me be a friend like Jesus to Nadia.

–Barbara J. Westberg

Bible Reading: Psalm 66:19-20

"We're leaving in five minutes, everybody. Let's get moving!" Dad called from the garage.

Hunter, already packed and ready hours ago, bounded in through the back door. "Mom, Mom! Guess what I found outside!"

But, distracted with her preparations, Mom didn't seem to hear. She bent over the cooler she was trying to organize and, frowning, pulled out a box of graham crackers. "That certainly doesn't belong in here...and neither does this..."

"Mom, listen, in the backyard there's this..." Hunter paused, realizing his mother wasn't paying attention. "I know you're busy, but this is really cool!"

Mom blinked. "Hmm? Hunter, if there's something you need, you can go ask your sisters. I still have so much to do." She glanced at the clock on the wall. "Oh, look at the time!" And with that, she hurried away.

Hunter found his sisters in the next room. "Hey, Addy, Katie, guess what I saw in the backyard!"

But the girls seemed to be preoccupied with their own business as well.

"Addy, do you have my coloring book?" Katie asked her twin.

"Well, yes, but--"

"Oh, there it is. Let me have it."

"Guys?" Hunter interrupted. "Don't you want to hear?"

Addy ignored Hunter and scowled at her sister. "It's not your coloring book anymore. Mom said I could have it since you never used it."

Katie jumped to her feet. "What? That's not fair! Give it back!"

"Nuh-uh! Mom said it's mine!"

"We'll see about that. Mom!" Katie stormed out with Addy close on her heels.

Hunter sighed in disappointment. "Isn't there anyone who wants to hear what I have to say?"

Then he remembered the one person he could always go to when he wanted someone to talk to. Closing his eyes and folding his hands together, Hunter prayed. "Jesus, I haven't been having a very good day--no one seems to have time for me. But I know you're always there and always want to listen. You know what I found today? A robin's nest with two little blue eggs in the tree next to the window. I'm going to keep watch every day so I won't miss it when they hatch!"

–Eliana Canfield

Bible Reading: Romans 8:31-39; 2 Corinthians 12:9

The wind blew through Georgia's hair as she and her uncle paddled their canoe among the reeds that filled the marshes near her new home. She didn't feel like paddling. Her mom had died of cancer four months before, and now she and her little brother were living far from home with Uncle Steve. The bayou, as Uncle Steve called it, looked like a swamp--nothing like Georgia's home in Michigan.

Georgia watched the marsh reeds bend under the force of the strong wind and muttered, "I know how you feel."

"What did you say, Georgia?" asked Uncle Steve, who had been doing more than his fair share of paddling for the last half mile.

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking how those reeds and I have a lot in common." Georgia sighed.

"How so?" asked Uncle Steve.

"Well, they get blown around wherever the wind wants. They don't get any say in what happens to them." She sighed again. "Just like me."

"You know, Georgia, I think you're right. You do have a lot in common with these reeds. But not in the way you think. Look a little closer," urged Uncle Steve as he paddled them over to the reeds. "What do you notice?"

Georgia studied the cluster of reeds. It was true that the wind blew them around, sometimes switching directions abruptly. But no matter how hard the wind blew, the reeds just bent over and popped back up.

"They aren't breaking," observed Georgia. "As soon as the wind stops, they straighten back up again. But that's not like me at all. I feel like I'll never pop back up."

Uncle Steve stopped paddling. "There's a verse in Isaiah that says, 'A bruised reed He will not break.' Georgia, no matter how much the hardships of this life may bend you, you can hang on to the promise that you don't have to break because God loves you and offers you grace, peace, and hope. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so that you could have the promise of eternal life and never have to face life's troubles alone. In times when it seems like you'll never pop back up, trust Him to hold you up so you won't break--just like these reeds."

–Laura Kuehn