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

Read: Romans 12:9-15

“What’s wrong, Elijah?” Mom asked as Elijah got in the car.

Elijah sighed. “Mrs. Lewis told our class that Henry won’t be in school for a few days. His dad had a heart attack and died early this morning.”

Mom gasped. “Oh no! That’s awful.”

Elijah nodded. “Principal Brown came and told us he went to Henry’s house this morning. He said Henry and his mom and little brother are very sad. Then he and Mrs. Lewis let us ask questions and talk for a while.” Elijah paused. “Mom, why did this happen? What are they going to do?”

Mom shook her head. “I don’t know. Is there something you want to do for them now?”

“I want to see Henry. He’s my best friend. Can we go to their house?”

“Okay, but first let’s make a meal for them,” Mom said.

Elijah and his mom made a pot of sloppy joes and put the whole meal in a basket. In the car, Elijah said, “Mom, let’s pray for Henry and his family.” Mom stopped the car at the end of the driveway, and they prayed for God to help the family. Elijah also asked Jesus to give him words to comfort his friend.

Henry greeted them at the door.

“We brought you dinner,” Elijah said, and he carried the basket to the kitchen.

Elijah and Henry slipped out to the porch while their moms talked in the house.

“Henry, I’m so sorry. What can I do?”

“I don’t even know. I miss Dad so much already.” Henry covered his face, wiping away tears. “When Mom said something was wrong this morning, I prayed Dad would be okay. Now I don’t know what’s going to happen to us.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen either, but I do know that Jesus loves you and will be with you through all of this. He understands how hard it is, and you always have hope in Him.” Elijah put a hand on his friend’s shaking shoulder. “I’ll be here for you too. Let me know if there’s anything I can do. I’ll be praying for you and your family.”

Henry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Thanks, Elijah.”

–Lynda Boucher

How about you? Do you have a friend who is hurting? Perhaps someone they love has died or they’re facing a difficult situation. Things like that can really hurt a person’s heart, and they need the love and support of their friends. Help them in whatever ways you can, and let them know you’re praying for them. Even though you won’t have all the answers, you can remind them of the hope they have in Jesus.

Today’s key verse: Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Help friends who are hurting

Read: Ephesians 6:13-17; Hebrews 4:12-13

“We had a missionary from Guatemala in my class today,” Maverick said as his family drove home from church. “He showed us a machete. It was big—and he said it was very sharp.”

“What’s a shetty?” asked Maverick’s little sister.

“Not shetty, Charis—machete,” Maverick corrected her. “It’s something like a sword. It can be used as a weapon, but the missionary said people in Guatemala use machetes to whack tall grasses and scoop out clumps of dirt when they’re planting crops. They use them to cut sugar cane and other plants too.” He smiled. “They sound really useful. I’d like to have one!”

“What would you do with it?” asked Charis. “You don’t need a shet…a mush…a sword. Why don’t they just call it a sword?”

Dad chuckled. “We have several swords in our house. Did you know that?”

“Yeah,” said Mom. “In fact, you each own one.”

Charis couldn’t believe that. “No, we don’t! I definitely don’t have a sword, and neither does Maverick.”

“Yes, you do!” Dad said. “Maverick has one in his hand right now.”

Charis looked at the Bible Maverick was holding. “That’s a Bible!”

Dad grinned. “Right. And the Bible is called the sword of the Spirit. It can cut through the lies and excuses we tell ourselves and point out our sin.”

Mom nodded. “For instance, before I became a Christian, I thought I was better than everyone else. I’d look at people and be glad my life wasn’t like theirs. But then a friend gave me a Bible, and when I started reading it, I realized I wasn’t good at all. God’s Word showed me all the ways I’d sinned against Him and how I could only be saved through Jesus, who died to take the punishment I deserve. It’s what led me to put my trust in Him. Now when I read the Bible, the Holy Spirit continues to show me things I’ve done wrong that I need to confess and ways I’m trying to do things on my own instead of trusting God. He’s using it to help me turn from sin and rest in God’s love and grace.”

“See?” said Dad. “The Bible really is sharp—sharp enough to pierce our hearts and show us how much we need Jesus.”

–Janice M. Jones

How about you? Have you ever been convicted of something as you read the Bible? Did it cut through your defenses and show you sin in your life? The Bible can pierce our hearts and show us our sin, but it also tells us that Jesus died and rose again so we could be saved. Trust Him to free you from sin. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Then keep reading the Bible and trust God to use it to make you more like Jesus.

Today’s key verse: [God’s word] is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us…It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Hebrews 4:12 (ERV)

Today’s key thought: The Bible pierces hearts

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-27

“Hey, Dad,” said Parker as he and his family were on their way home from a visit with their grandmother, “what do you want written on your tombstone?”

“What a question!” said Mom. “Why are you asking that?”

Parker laughed. “While you were visiting with Grandma, Sadie and I went to the cemetery across the street, remember? There were some interesting things carved on the grave markers—like little sayings or poems. I was just wondering what you’d want on yours someday.”

“I think I’d like a Bible verse,” Dad said. “I want people to remember that my hope is in Jesus.”

“Why do people put flowers on graves?” asked Sadie.

“It’s an expression of love for the person who died,” said Mom. “They do it in memory of that person, and it comforts them as they remember who that person was and what they did.”

“That reminds me of the memorial service we have at church,” Dad said.

“Memorial service?” Parker asked. “At our church? What service is that?”

“The communion service,” replied Dad. “The Bible tells us to observe it in memory of Jesus and all He did for us. We’re reminded of His life and death and that He rose from the grave.”

“And also that He’s coming again,” Mom said.

Sadie nodded thoughtfully. “Why don’t we bring flowers for Him, like people do at the cemetery?” she asked. “Or write something about Jesus on a tombstone?”

“Jesus isn’t dead, so He doesn’t need a tombstone!” said Parker. “But I guess we could bring flowers—like people do at Easter.”

“Well, Jesus actually gave special instructions on how to remember Him,” Dad said. “The bread and cup—symbols of His body and blood—are reminders of the sacrifice He made so we could be saved from sin.”

“Jesus sacrificed so much for us, but we often take it for granted,” said Mom. “That’s why communion is so important.”

“Next time we have a communion service, I’m going to think about Him and thank Him for what He did,” said Parker.

“Why wait till then?” asked Sadie. “We can thank Him right now too!”

–A. W. Smith

How about you? Did you know that communion is a special time to fix your thoughts on Jesus and what He’s done for you? Think about how holy He is and the great sacrifice He made for you out of love. Thank Him for dying on the cross and rising from the grave so you could be free from sin and have eternal life. Remember that He’s coming again and will always be with you.

Today’s key verse: As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Remember what Jesus did for you

Read: Psalm 121

“Why are we making a scarecrow for the garden?” Cora asked her grandma as she put in some more stuffing.

“Well, the scarecrow helps keep the garden safe from crows. The crows love to pull up the sprouts just as they’re popping out of the ground, but when they see the scarecrow, they’re afraid to come into the garden.”

“So the scarecrow is pretty important. I think we should name him,” Cora said. “Let’s call him Patrick, Protector of the Garden.”

“I like that name,” Grandma replied.

When they finished putting the scarecrow together, Grandma and Cora carried him to the center of the garden and set him up. “Okay, Patrick, protect our garden!” Cora exclaimed as she gave him a salute.

Grandma smiled. “Now let’s go have some lemonade and cookies.”

Grandma got a tray of cookies and two glasses of lemonade, and they went out and sat at the picnic table under the big shade tree.

“Making the scarecrow was a lot of fun today,” Cora said as she took a bite of her cookie.

“And having you here to help made it even more special for me,” said Grandma. “You know, each year when I make a scarecrow, I stop and think about how the Lord is always watching over me and protecting me. The scarecrow gives me a visual picture. He looks like he’s keeping watch in the center of the garden, and I envision the Lord keeping watch over me in the same way.”

“But the scarecrow can’t actually see anything,” Cora said. “He just scares the crows away.”

“Right,” said Grandma. “But God sees everything. Proverbs 15:3 says, ‘The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.’ God sees us, and He also loves us. He sent Jesus to save us from sin and evil and to be with us through all of life’s difficulties. So, Cora, if you ever feel like God is far away and you’re all alone, just stop and think of Patrick the Scarecrow and remember what the Bible says about God’s faithfulness to us.”

“I will, Grandma.” Cora grinned. “Can I take Patrick home with me after the harvest?”

Grandma chuckled. “I’m sure it will be fine, as long as you keep him outside.”

–Lisa Fuller

How about you? Do you ever feel like God is far away and doesn’t care about you? When you feel that way, open up your Bible. God’s Word is full of verses that will remind you of how much He loves you and His faithfulness to you. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to die for you, and He promises He will never leave you, even when bad things happen. Trust Him to watch over you.

Today’s key verse: The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalm 121:8 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: God watches over you

Read: Romans 10:9-14

“Mom, can I go play at the park with Logan?” asked Michael.

Mom laughed. “Logan, Logan, Logan. Ever since you met him, all I hear is ‘Logan.’”

“He’s lots of fun,” said Michael. “I think we’re going to be really good friends. It almost feels like he’s the brother I never had.”

“Well, he seems like a nice kid,” said Mom. “Why don’t you invite him to come to church with us this week?”

“Okay,” said Michael, “I will.”

That evening, Michael was excited when he got home. “I invited Logan to church, and he said he’d come!”

Later that week, Logan attended church with Michael and his mom. He came the next week too, and then the next, and the next. And then one Sunday, Logan trusted Jesus as his Savior.

Several weeks later, Michael came home looking worried. “Logan and I were supposed to meet at the park this morning, but he didn’t show,” he told his mom. “I tried texting him, but he didn’t respond. I’d go to his place to make sure he’s okay, but I don’t know where he lives—he always came here or met me at the park.”

“I’ll ask around,” said Mom. “Maybe I can find out what happened.”

The next day, Mom had news. “I’m afraid Logan won’t be coming around anymore,” she said. “I found out his dad is wanted by the police. He apparently learned they were on his trail, and he packed up his family and took off. Seems he’s been on the go like that for a couple years.”

Michael’s face crumpled as tears filled his eyes. “So I’m never going to see Logan again? But he was like…like…”

“I know,” Mom said as she hugged him. “He was like a brother to you. And you know what? Because you both trust in Jesus, you are brothers in Christ. You’ve both been adopted by God. Maybe Logan will be able to get in touch with you someday, but even if you’re never able to reconnect with him in this lifetime, you’ll see him in heaven.”

Michael wiped his eyes. “I’m glad I told him about Jesus. I’m going to pray for him, wherever he is.”

“Good,” said Mom. “Let’s pray for him right now.”

–Agnes Livezey

How about you? Have you told your friends about Jesus? Do you pray for them? Being someone’s friend involves more than just having fun together. If you truly love them, tell them what Jesus has done for you and pray for them. Ask God to help them understand how they can become a part of His family too. If they already know Jesus as their Savior, pray for them as your brother or sister in Christ.

Today’s key verse: How can they put their trust in [Jesus] if they have not heard of Him? Romans 10:14 (NLV)

Today’s key thought: Share Jesus with your friends