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

Read: Romans 5:6-8; 2 Timothy 1:9-10

Bax scooped the wet sand with as much care as he could stand, completing the last tower on his masterpiece. Finally, he thought. He sat back and admired his creation, but only long enough for his three-year-old brother Matt to run up from the water’s edge.

“Mommy, I found a—” CRASH! Matt tripped over Bax’s bucket and fell headlong into Bax’s castle!

“Matt! Look what you did! I’ve been working on my castle the whole time we’ve been here!” Angry, Bax advanced on his brother, wielding his plastic shovel. Matt beat a hasty retreat behind their mother.

“I sorry, Bax, I sorry! Accident!” Matt cried.

Mom stepped in. “Bax, we don’t hit others. You know that Matt just tripped over your bucket. I think you can show him some grace.”

“But Mom, he ruined my sandcastle! If I had wrecked something Matt made, I’d definitely get in trouble,” Bax complained.

“Maybe, but remember what we talked about at church this week? We don’t suffer the worst consequences for the bad things we’ve done because Jesus showed us grace. He died for us on the cross and came back to life. Because of that, you can show that same kind of grace by forgiving your brother.”

“But that’s not fair!” Bax exclaimed.

“No, that’s not fair, but neither is the grace Jesus gives us. It’s not fair that God should treat us like we’ve done no wrong when we’ve certainly lied and cheated and acted selfishly.” Mom looked at him expectantly as Matt snuffled noisily.

Bax looked down at his smashed castle, then back at his brother’s red face. “I’m sorry for yelling at you, Matt. I’m sad about my sandcastle, but I know you didn’t do it on purpose. I forgive you. Can you forgive me too?”

Matt shuffled back around Mom and said, “I sorry too, Bax. I forgive you.”

“Thank you, boys,” Mom said. “And I have an idea. Let’s go up to the snack shop and get some ice cream!”

“Yes!” both boys exclaimed, and they started running up the beach, both relieved that they had been shown grace.

–Dylan Kraayenbrink

How about you? Can you think of a time when you were forgiven even though you had done something wrong? That wasn’t fair, but it was an example of someone showing you grace. God showed us grace by sending Jesus to die for our sins. When you trust in Jesus and accept God’s forgiveness, He gives you the Holy Spirit, who empowers you to give grace to others, even when it’s not fair or you don’t feel like it.

Today's Key Verse: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Forgive others

Read: Psalm 75:4-7; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

HONK! Honk-honk-HONK! The horn on Jace’s tricycle was making an awful racket. Mya clapped her hands over her ears as she came in from school. “You’re hurting my ears with all that honking!”

“Jace,” Mom said, “let Mya help you take your tricycle to the playroom in the basement.”

“But I wanna ride up here!” Jace wailed.

Mya picked up the tricycle and started for the stairs. “Blow it all you want in the basement where it won’t bother anybody.”

When Mya came back, she said, “Now I can tell you my news, Mom. I’ve been promoted to the advanced math class! Only five percent of the kids make that class.”

Mom came over to give her a hug. “Congratulations, honey!”

Mya beamed. “And my art teacher told me she wants me to enter one of my projects in a competition for kids my age. She thinks I might win an award!”

“That’s great!” said Mom. “I hope you win!”

“Me too. I think I will—the other kids’ projects weren’t nearly as good as mine. Now I just need to tell my friends! Oh, and I need to tell them I’m going to see a Broadway show with you and Dad in New York next month. They’ll be so jealous!”

“Mya,” Mom said, “that’s enough. You’re hurting my ears!”

Mya looked puzzled. “But Mom, I’m not talking that loud.”

“No, but you’re blowing your own horn, and it’s getting louder and louder.”

“What do you mean, Mom? I just want to share my news with my friends.”

“I know,” said Mom. “But there’s a difference between sharing an accomplishment or opportunity you’re excited about and bragging because you think you’re better than others. God has given you many blessings, like a sharp mind your teachers have helped you develop. But He wants you to use those blessings to point others to Jesus, not brag about how great you are. When none of us could save ourselves from sin, Jesus came and died for us. He’s the one who deserves our praise, not us.”

Mom smiled as the faint sound of a tricycle horn drifted up the stairs. “If you’re going to honk your own horn, do it in the basement.”

“No thanks,” said Mya. “I don’t want to sound anything like that!”

–Barbara J. Westberg

How about you? Do you like to hear people brag? Do you brag yourself? It’s great to accomplish something difficult or receive a special opportunity, so go ahead and be excited when that happens. But don’t brag. Thank God for the blessings He’s given you, and remember that He wants you to use your accomplishments and opportunities to show people the love of Jesus.

Today's Key Verse: Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth. Proverbs 27:2 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Don’t blow your own horn

Read: Matthew 7:9-11

Nathan typed an email to his dad, who was away on sea duty with the Navy. “The Carlsons next door have a litter of puppies,” he wrote. “Can I please have one? Mom says it’s okay with her if it’s okay with you. I wanted to have a dog just like Rex, Uncle Brad’s dog, but this one is free.” Nathan clicked send. He could hardly wait for his dad’s answer.

When Nathan got home from school the next day, Mom met him at the door. “I just talked to Dad on the phone,” she told him. “He’ll be home next week.”

Nathan grinned. “That’s great! Did he say I could have a puppy?”

Mom shook her head, and Nathan’s grin disappeared. “Dad doesn’t want you to get one right now,” she said. “I know it’s hard for you to understand, but please trust your dad. He loves you and wants what’s best for you.”

“Yeah, right,” Nathan muttered as he went inside.

For a while, Nathan’s disappointment clouded the joy of looking forward to his dad’s return. But when Dad arrived, Nathan threw his arms around him and started asking lots of questions. Then he remembered that Dad hadn’t let him get one of the neighbors’ puppies. “I still don’t see why I couldn’t get that puppy, Dad,” he said with a frown.

Just then a sound came from Dad’s pile of luggage. “What’s that noise?” Nathan asked.

Dad grinned and lifted a wriggling ball of fur out of a plastic carrier. “A puppy!” Nathan exclaimed. Dad placed the puppy in his arms. “He looks just like Rex!” said Nathan.

“The reason I said no to the other puppy was because I knew this was the kind of dog you really wanted,” Dad explained.

Mom smiled. “Like I told you before, you can trust your father to do what’s best for you.”

“We can trust our heavenly Father to do that too,” said Dad, “even when He says no to something we ask Him for. When that happens, we need to remember that He loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us and that everything He gives us is meant to help us grow in our relationship with Jesus. We can always trust Him to do what’s best.”

Nathan grinned and hugged the puppy tight.

–Agnes Livezey

How about you? Does your heavenly Father sometimes say no to the things you ask Him for? You may not understand why He answers your prayer with a “no” or “wait” instead of a “yes,” but remember that He loves you more than any earthly father could. Even when He doesn’t answer your prayers the way you want, you can trust Him to give you good gifts that help you grow in your faith.

Today's Key Verse: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father. James 1:17 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: God gives the best

Read: Ephesians 5:1-4

Brooke’s bag bounced against her back as she raced across the field. Her sister April stood on the sidewalk just outside the middle school.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Brooke squeezed her big sister. “How long will you be home before you have to go back to college?”

“Two weeks.” April smiled and tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder.

Kids poured out of the school and whizzed by. One of Brooke’s friends waved as she zipped past. “See you on Monday, Brooke.”

“Bye,” Brooke called after her. Her cell phone vibrated against her leg, and she pulled it out.

You HAVE to text me after you see this. It was a message from her friend Mindy.

Brooke touched the screen and music blared from her phone.

“What are you watching?” April asked. She peered over Brooke’s shoulder at the screen.

An unflattering photo of the principal’s head was attached to the body of an ape. It danced around for a couple seconds, and then everything faded to black.

April frowned as Brooke slid the phone into her pocket. “I hope you don’t watch videos like that all the time.”

Brooke shrugged. “I’ve asked Mindy to stop sending them, but she doesn’t listen.”

“Well, it’s not your fault if she tries to get you to watch things that you shouldn’t. But you do have a choice. You can choose not to view the things she sends.”

Brooke nodded. Her sister was right. The videos Mindy sent her didn’t even make her laugh. They made her feel terrible.

April rested a hand on Brooke’s shoulder. “You know how Mom’s always talking about how we need to love others the way Jesus loves us and treat people the way He would? Well, that includes people online and on our phones too. We need to treat them with love and respect because Jesus loves them and died for them.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Brooke said.

“Why don’t you get out your phone so we can take some selfies?” April gave her cheesiest grin and made bunny ears behind Brooke’s head as Brooke took a picture. “Then maybe you can show me the most recent pics of you and your friends.”

Brooke nodded, then held up her phone for another selfie and smiled.

–Annika Klanderud

How about you? Have you ever watched something online that you knew you shouldn’t have? Sometimes it may feel like the things we do online are pretend and don’t really matter, but they can hurt both you and others. Show others God’s love by treating them with respect both online and in person, and use technology to enhance your relationships with others instead of hurting them.

Today's Key Verse: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Use technology in good ways

Read: Ephesians 5:1-4

Brooke’s bag bounced against her back as she raced across the field. Her sister April stood on the sidewalk just outside the middle school.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Brooke squeezed her big sister. “How long will you be home before you have to go back to college?”

“Two weeks.” April smiled and tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder.

Kids poured out of the school and whizzed by. One of Brooke’s friends waved as she zipped past. “See you on Monday, Brooke.”

“Bye,” Brooke called after her. Her cell phone vibrated against her leg, and she pulled it out.

You HAVE to text me after you see this. It was a message from her friend Mindy.

Brooke touched the screen and music blared from her phone.

“What are you watching?” April asked. She peered over Brooke’s shoulder at the screen.

An unflattering photo of the principal’s head was attached to the body of an ape. It danced around for a couple seconds, and then everything faded to black.

April frowned as Brooke slid the phone into her pocket. “I hope you don’t watch videos like that all the time.”

Brooke shrugged. “I’ve asked Mindy to stop sending them, but she doesn’t listen.”

“Well, it’s not your fault if she tries to get you to watch things that you shouldn’t. But you do have a choice. You can choose not to view the things she sends.”

Brooke nodded. Her sister was right. The videos Mindy sent her didn’t even make her laugh. They made her feel terrible.

April rested a hand on Brooke’s shoulder. “You know how Mom’s always talking about how we need to love others the way Jesus loves us and treat people the way He would? Well, that includes people online and on our phones too. We need to treat them with love and respect because Jesus loves them and died for them.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Brooke said.

“Why don’t you get out your phone so we can take some selfies?” April gave her cheesiest grin and made bunny ears behind Brooke’s head as Brooke took a picture. “Then maybe you can show me the most recent pics of you and your friends.”

Brooke nodded, then held up her phone for another selfie and smiled.

–Annika Klanderud

How about you? Have you ever watched something online that you knew you shouldn’t have? Sometimes it may feel like the things we do online are pretend and don’t really matter, but they can hurt both you and others. Show others God’s love by treating them with respect both online and in person, and use technology to enhance your relationships with others instead of hurting them.

Today's Key Verse: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Use technology in good ways