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

Read: Luke 4:1-15; John 10:7-10

Riley rummaged through the tackle box until she found the shiny silver lure her dad wanted. “Is this the one?”

Dad took it from her hand. “Yep. That’s it.” He grinned. “As soon as Mr. Fish sees this, he’ll gobble it up.”

Riley beamed. “Then we’ll catch him and gobble him up, won’t we?”

Dad nodded. “We sure will.” After tying the lure to the fishing line, Dad cast it into the lake. “Want to reel this in and see if we can catch a fish?”

“Next time,” Riley said. “You catch one first.”

“Okay.” Dad turned the reel. “Hey! I think I’ve got a bite!”

“All right!” Riley clapped her hands as Dad reeled in a big fish. “Wow! Are we going to eat it tonight?” she asked as Dad reached for the flopping fish.

Dad grinned. “You know it!” He threw the line out again. “Do you know why that shiny thing you gave me is called a lure?”

Riley shook her head. “Not really.”

“To lure something means to attract it, and that thing attracts fish,” Dad explained. “It looks good to them and tricks them into thinking it’s good to eat, but when they grab it, they’re caught.” He handed Riley the fishing rod. “Did you know that Satan often uses lures to trick and trap people?”

Riley began reeling in the line. “He does?”

“Yep, but not the kind we use,” said Dad. “Satan often tricks people by making sin look attractive. He may get you to think it’s harmless—even fun. But don’t fall for it. Just like a fishing lure, in the end, sin only leads to death. That’s why Jesus had to die for us—to take the punishment for our sin so we could have eternal life with Him instead of being separated from God forever. When you’re tempted to sin, remember that Jesus resisted temptation and conquered Satan and death for you. He saved you and makes you able to see Satan’s lures for what they really are—lies—so you can turn to the true life you have in Him instead.”

Riley finished reeling in the line. “No fish this time,” she said. “I guess they resisted the lure.” She cast the line out again. “I’ll trust Jesus to help me do the same thing!”

–Richard S. Maffeo

How about you? Did you know that Satan uses lures to get people to sin? He’ll do his best to trick you into doing something wrong. Don’t fall for his lies. Even though he may make sin look attractive and fun, it only leads to destruction. If you know Jesus as your Savior, He has saved you from sin and given you eternal life. When you’re tempted to sin, trust Him for the strength to say no.

Today’s key verse: Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Resist the lure of sin

Read: Psalm 103:2-6, 8-12

Hudson sat down at the kitchen table and watched as his little sister, Violet, tried to staple several pieces of paper she had colored into a book. “When I was your age, I had to push with all my weight on the stapler,” he said.

Suddenly, Violet stood, chair scraping, launched her project into the trash, and stormed to her room.

“I’m right here if you want”—Violet slammed her door—“help,” Mom said. She rescued the book from the trash and examined it. Violet had managed to staple it three times in the middle, but couldn’t figure out that to flip it open like a book, it had to be stapled on the side. Mom knocked on Violet’s door.

“Come in,” Violet said with a huff.

“I know a way to fix your book,” Mom said. “Do you want help?”

Violet nodded and followed Mom to the kitchen. “I tried, but I can’t do it!” she wailed.

Mom walked to a drawer and opened it. “Sometimes parents know things kids don’t,” she said, pulling out a staple remover.

“Oh yeah, I’ve seen those before!” Violet said, her face brightening.

Mom removed the center staples and helped Violet re-staple the sides of the papers. “It’ll have some small holes in it, but it will still work great.”

Violet hugged her book and then hugged Mom.

Hudson grinned. “That’s like what God does for us, huh, Mom? He rescues us from the trash and makes us work right again.”

Mom smiled and hugged both her kids. “You’re right, Hudson. God can rescue us and repair any mess we’ve made, no matter how big it is. We all do things that are wrong, but God is always there to forgive us and help us when we mess up. Nothing is beyond His repair.”

“Does God have a giant staple remover?” Violet asked.

Hudson and Mom both laughed. “No, Violet, He has something better,” Mom said. “Jesus died in our place to rescue us from sin and make us new people. When we trust Him as our Savior, He forgives our sins and His Holy Spirit empowers us to live life God’s way.”

–Pearl Allard

How about you? Do you feel like your life is beyond repair? Maybe you’ve done so many things wrong that you feel like a mess no one can fix. No sin is beyond God’s forgiveness, and no person is beyond His repair. He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue you from sin and death, and He will make you a new person and always be there to help you. Trust in Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. Psalm 103:4 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: No life is beyond God’s repair

Read: Matthew 25:14-30

Every afternoon for an entire week, Sebastian got out pencils, paints, and poster board as soon as he got home from school. “I want to win the art contest at the city library,” he told his dad. “I love to draw things.”

On the day of the judging, Sebastian waited anxiously for the judges’ decision. Finally, they nodded in agreement. Then one of them put a third-prize ribbon on one of the posters. It wasn’t Sebastian’s. The second-prize ribbon went on another poster, but it wasn’t his either. Sebastian’s stomach twisted in a knot. Finally, a judge picked up the first-prize ribbon, walked over to a poster, and attached it to a corner. Sebastian blinked to hold back tears as he realized he had not won a prize.

“I’m giving up on art,” Sebastian told his dad after the contest.

“Really?” Dad rubbed his chin. “Do you know who Babe Ruth is?”

“Sure,” said Sebastian. “He was a famous baseball player in the 1920s. He’s probably the most famous player in the history of the sport.”

“Right,” said Dad. “He was the first one to hit sixty home runs in a season, but did you know he also struck out a lot of times?”

“He did?”

“Yep,” said Dad. “What made him a good player was that he kept swinging the bat when others would have gotten discouraged and given up. Persistence is needed in everything—whether it’s swinging bats or painting pictures.”

Sebastian sighed. “I guess you’re telling me I shouldn’t give up on art, huh?”

Dad nodded. “God gave you your love for drawing and painting so you could use it for Him—not earn recognition for yourself. You may win prizes for your art one day, and that would be great, but that shouldn’t be the reason you do it. Instead of quitting, keep enjoying and developing the ability God has given you and use it to point others to Jesus.”

“Well, I did see a flyer at school yesterday that said they need volunteers to help with facepainting at the preschool’s family night next week,” Sebastian said. “Maybe I should take a swing at that.”

“That’s a great idea,” said Dad. He grinned at Sebastian. “Batter up!”

–Carolyn E. Yost

How about you? Are you patiently developing the talents God has given you? It can be frustrating at times, and there may be some things He only wants you to do for a while and then move on. But don’t give up something you enjoy just because you’re not getting prizes or recognition. God gave you that talent so you could use it to help others and show them His love. Trust Him to help you keep on swinging!

Today’s key thought: Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

Today’s key verse: Patiently develop talents

Read: Romans 12:4-8; 1 Timothy 4:12

“Tobias, Gramps just called. He needs you to help him on his computer this afternoon,” Mom called from the kitchen.

Tobias giggled. “Always glad to help Gramps.”

After school Tobias walked to his grandpa’s house. “Thanks for coming over,” Gramps said. “I just get so confused when I’m trying to order anything online, and you always seem to know exactly what you’re doing.” Gramps sighed. “All this computer stuff is just too hard for an old guy like me to learn.”

“No, it’s not, Gramps. I’ll help you!”

Tobias showed Gramps how to order the item he needed. “Thanks for your help,” Gramps said as he clicked the order button. “Are you still free to go fishing this weekend?”

Tobias nodded eagerly. “I can’t wait!”

On Saturday morning, Tobias climbed into the johnboat with Gramps. “I’m going to show you how to use the trolling motor today,” Gramps told him.

“I don’t know, Gramps. Do you think I can do it?”

“Sure you can!” Gramps carefully explained how to start and maneuver the trolling motor, then turned it over to Tobias.

At first Tobias had a little trouble getting the motor started. Then it took a little time to get used to steering it. But by the end of the day, he could steer the boat with no trouble.

“Thanks for sticking it out with me today until I got the hang of it. It was a lot of fun!”

“Next time you can be the captain,” Gramps said as he grabbed the cooler out of the boat. “Now, let’s get these fish cleaned.”

As they cleaned the fish, Gramps said, “You know, you and I helped each other learn something new this week. It reminds me of how Christians are supposed to help each other.”

Tobias looked confused. “How?”

“Everyone who trusts in Jesus is part of His church, which the Bible calls the body of Christ. We’re all different—some people are old like me, some are young like you, but we can all learn from each other and encourage one another in our faith.” Gramps smiled at Tobias. “You’re never too young to help others know more about Jesus.”

Tobias smiled back. “Or too old to learn something new about Him!”

–Lisa Fuller

How about you? Do you ever think you’re too young to help someone older than you? You’re not. We all learn and experience different things in life, which means any of us can use what we’ve learned to help someone else, no matter how old we are. That’s especially true in the body of Christ. Never be afraid to share what you’ve learned in your walk with Jesus. Your words might be just the encouragement someone needs to hear!

Today’s key verse: In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Help others learn about Jesus

Read: Matthew 23:25-28

Thomas walked into the bathroom and was surprised to see his dad’s legs sticking out from under the sink. “Dad? Why are you hanging out in the cupboard?”

“Well, I saw a water stain on the ceiling downstairs,” his dad’s voice echoed from inside the cabinet. “Water can really damage the inside of a house, so I did a little detective work. Found out this sink is leaking water all the way downstairs.”

“But Dad, it’s Saturday. Don’t you just want to relax? You could just paint over the stain.”

Through the sink drain, Thomas heard a laugh. “Some people do. But that would just cover up the damage. The sink would keep leaking, and our house would rot from the inside out. I’d have to spend a lot more than a Saturday—and a lot more than a few bucks on new fittings—if I ignored this leak.” His head emerged from the cabinet. “You know, I had a situation like this with our pastor this week.”

Thomas’s eyebrows went up. “Pastor John has a leak?”

Now they both laughed. “No, I think he’s fine,” Dad said. “But at church this week, I wanted to look like a good guy. When I was talking to Pastor John, I wanted to tell him about the work we’ve been doing with refugees—not to honor Jesus, but to honor myself. Then I realized I was focusing on outward appearances, just like someone who paints over a water stain. I was more concerned about how others saw me than what Jesus was doing through me.”

“Isn’t that like those guys in the Bible?” asked Thomas. “The…pair-of-fleas, or something like that?”

Dad was tucked in the cabinet again, and his belly quivered with laughter. “You crack me up! Yep, like the Pharisees. Jesus said they were like a nice tombstone—painted on the outside, but inside, full of rotting bones.”

Thomas wrinkled his nose. “Gross!”

“Exactly. If we do things to make ourselves look good but they don’t come from our hearts, God can see the rottenness inside. That’s why we need Jesus to fix our hearts. When we admit our pride and selfishness to Him, He removes the rottenness of our sin so we can show His goodness and love to others from the inside out.”

–Janel Breitenstein

How about you? Is there a leak in your heart that needs to be fixed? Are you trying to cover the stain by looking good on the outside? Even if you can make yourself look good to other people, God sees what’s inside. Don’t try to cover up sin in your heart—you need Jesus to fix it. Confess your sin to Him, and He will remove it and help you be kind and loving inside and out.

Today’s key verse: God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (ERV)

Today’s key thought: Do good from the inside out