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

Read: Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23; 1 John 5:9-12

After enjoying a picnic lunch, Uncle Don pointed toward the paths around the picnic area. “Do you remember which path we took to get here?”

“It was the one by the swings,” Kennedy said.

Elliot disagreed. “It was the one by that flowering bush over there.”

“Nuh-uh! I remember seeing the swings right away,” Kennedy insisted.

“But I remember seeing a bird’s nest on the other side of that bush!” Elliot shot back.

“Let’s try an experiment,” said Uncle Don. “You each sincerely believe you’re right, don’t you?”

“Yes!” shouted both of the children.

“All right. How about you each try your path and we’ll see who’s right. I’ll walk with Elliot, and Aunt Sue can walk with Kennedy. Whoever finds the car can text the other group. If no one finds the car, meet back here in fifteen minutes.”

The kids agreed, and off they went. Fifteen minutes later, they were back at the picnic spot. “I can’t believe neither of us found the car!” Kennedy said. “Uncle Don, do you know where it is?”

Uncle Don smiled. “Follow me.”

They followed Uncle Don down a path near some wildflowers, and after a few minutes, they saw he was right.

“There’s the car!” yelled Elliot.

“How did you know, Uncle Don?” Kennedy asked.

Uncle Don held up his phone. “I have an app that tells me where my car is parked. It showed me which path to take.”

“That’s kind of like what we were talking about earlier—about how the Bible shows us the only path to heaven,” Elliot said.

Uncle Don nodded. “You both were very sincere in believing that the path you chose would lead to the car, but your sincerity didn’t help you. You can also be very sincere about the path you choose to try to get to heaven, but unless you choose the right one, your sincerity won’t help you get there either. My phone showed me the truth about where the car was parked, and God’s Word shows us the truth about how to get to heaven. There’s no other way to have eternal life except through Jesus. He’s the one and only way to heaven.”

–Harry C. Trover

How about you? Do you know the way to heaven? Do you think the way to get there is by going to church, saying prayers, or doing good things? The Bible says nothing you do will ever get you to heaven. It says Jesus is the only way—only He can give you life that lasts forever. Choose the right path by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus is the way to heaven

Read: John 14:6; Acts 17:10-12

“It’s so pretty here!” Kennedy told her aunt and uncle as she gazed around the picnic area. She turned to her brother. “Don’t you wish we could live in the Rockies, Elliot?”

“It sure is nice,” Elliot said. “Look—I guess everybody likes this spot. There are paths coming here from all directions. It’s just like the city of Rome.”

“How is this like Rome?” Aunt Sue asked.

“Last week our pastor said that in the days of the Roman Empire, you could follow any road and it would lead you to Rome,” Elliot explained. “He said that’s like going to heaven. No matter what religion we follow, it will lead us to heaven if we’re sincere and do our best.”

Uncle Don frowned. “Perhaps all roads did lead to Rome, but all religions certainly don’t lead to heaven. The Bible has something to say about that.”

“That’s right,” said Aunt Sue. “If we want to know what’s true and what’s not, we can’t accept the word of any person—unless what they say agrees with what we read in the Bible. And in the book of John, Jesus says He is the way to heaven. We can only be saved from sin and have eternal life by trusting in Him.”

Kennedy looked doubtful. “I never heard our minister say that. Wouldn’t he know?”

“Yeah,” said Elliot. “He’s had lots of training, and he’s a really cool guy!”

“It doesn’t matter who he is or how nice he is,” Uncle Don said. “What matters is whether he teaches what God says in His Word. The book of Acts talks about the apostle Paul going to a city called Berea. When he preached to the people there, they checked the Scriptures to see if what he said was correct. That’s what we need to do too.”

“I never thought about that,” Elliot said. “I always thought whatever our pastor said was true, but I guess he could be wrong.”

Uncle Don nodded. “People can be wrong, but what God says in His Word is always right.” He pulled out his phone. “How about I show you some more Bible verses that talk about how Jesus is the only way to have eternal life?”

Elliot and Kennedy nodded and scooched closer.

–Harry C. Trover

How about you? Do you go to church to learn about God? Do you read books, watch videos, or listen to programs that talk about God? That’s great, but make sure what you’re learning agrees with God’s Word. If you’re not sure whether something is true, ask a parent or teacher to help you find it in the Bible. Follow the example of early Christians and study the Bible so you know what it says.

Today’s key verse: They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Study the Bible

Read: 1 Corinthians 13

“Keira, let me help you with that.” Alexis reached for a pile of laundry needing to be folded. “It will earn me points for my youth group contest. I want to get the most points so I can win!” One of the ways kids in the youth group could earn points was by helping the members of their family.

Keira frowned and batted her sister’s hands away. “I’m not signing any paper saying you helped me with anything. Just leave me and my things alone!”

The other members of Alexis’s family were delighted with her behavior. They could hardly believe how helpful she had suddenly become—she did dishes, made beds, offered to help with her brother’s homework, babysat, and even carried out the trash! Keira was the only one who refused her help.

Alexis did well in the contest, but she didn’t win. Yet to everyone’s surprise, her helpful ways continued.

One day, Keira asked Alexis to help her fold the laundry. Alexis was puzzled. “Why do you let me do things for you now?” she asked. “When we were having the contest, you wouldn’t let me do anything for you.”

“Well, now you really want to help me,” Keira replied. “Before, you just did it for points.”

Alexis thought about that. “I guess that’s true. I wanted to win the prize for getting the most points.”

“Why do you want to help now?” Keira asked.

“Well, on the day the contest ended, Miss Wilson talked about a Bible passage that says no matter how much good we do, without love, our good deeds are worthless in God’s sight. She said that’s why she came up with the contest in the first place—to show how often we might think we’re earning points with God when we do good things, but if we don’t have the love of Jesus in our hearts, our good deeds mean nothing. She said we need to trust in Jesus and depend on Him to help us do things for others out of love, and I realized she was right.” Alexis grinned at her sister. “I’m glad you can tell the difference.”

“I can.” Keira laughed. “But now I’m sorry I didn’t help you win the contest!”

–Agnes Livezey

How about you? Do you do nice things for other people? Why? Is it so you’ll win points with them and make them like you? Or do you think doing good deeds wins you points with God? He says that all the good things you do mean nothing if they’re not done out of genuine love—the kind of love Jesus has for you. Trust Him to fill your heart with His love so you can let it overflow to others. They can tell the difference!

Today’s key verse: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Love one another

Read: Psalm 23

Owen looked at the frail man on the bed. Grandpa’s getting so weak, he thought. I know he’s going to die soon. “Are you afraid, Grandpa?” he asked.

“No, Owen.” Grandpa smiled as he reached for Owen’s hand. “I’m not afraid to die. Jesus is with me. I’m going home to be with Him.”

Owen nodded, but he thought he’d be afraid anyway. After all, he couldn’t see Jesus!

Later that afternoon, Owen got a text from his friend Kian. “Wanna come over for a while?” Kian asked. “Mom says you can stay for supper.” After checking with his mom, Owen walked across the field to Kian’s house.

A few hours later, the boys had just finished a game when Owen glanced out the window. “It’s already dark!” he said, jumping to his feet. “I gotta go!”

As Owen started across the field, he could barely make out the path. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, casting weird shadows on the waving grass. Strange sounds came from the trees at the edge of the field. Owen’s heart thumped, and his knees felt weak. Don’t be a baby, he told himself. Shadows can’t hurt anyone.

“Owen?” a voice called from the darkness. For a second, Owen’s heart almost stopped, but then he recognized the familiar voice.

“Dad! I’m so glad to see you!” Owen said in a wobbly voice. “Or at least, I’m glad to hear you. It’s so dark, I can hardly see anything.”

“I know. I came to walk home with you,” Dad said. “I thought you might like some company crossing this dark field.” With Dad beside him, Owen felt like the shadows were friendly, and the sounds were no longer scary.

When they got home, Owen went to Grandpa’s room to tell him about the experience. “Once I knew Dad was there, I wasn’t scared anymore,” Owen said, “even though I couldn’t see him. It was almost like I could feel him with me.” He hesitated. “Is that kind of how you’re not afraid to die?”

“Exactly,” said Grandpa. “Death is like a dark shadow, and even though I can’t see Jesus, I know He’s there. I feel His presence, and with Him beside me, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Owen nodded, beginning to understand.

–Barbara J. Westberg

How about you? Do you know someone who is dying? Are you afraid of dying yourself? For a Christian, death is like a shadow. As Psalm 23 says, you don’t have to fear death when Jesus is with you. In fact, the last verse of the Psalm tells what will happen to you if you know Jesus as your Savior. It says you will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Jesus promises to walk with you through everything, even death, and bring you home to heaven with Him.

Today’s key verse: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Christians don’t have to fear death

Read: Romans 12:1-2

“Whoa!” Vivian exclaimed when she saw the pile of things her mother had laid out on the table. “Is Gracie getting all of that for her birthday?”

Mom nodded. “Grandma brought some of it over. She found a lot of things on sale, so your little niece is probably getting more than she needs. I offered to wrap Grandma’s gifts for her.”

Vivian sat down beside her mom. “Can I help?”

“You sure can,” Mom replied.

Vivian chose a doll in a pink dress. She wrapped it in bright purple paper and tied a silver ribbon around the package. “There! That looks really pretty, doesn’t it? But do you know what I like most about presents?”

“What’s that?” Mom asked.

“What’s inside them,” said Vivian. “That’s the best part of a present.”

“I agree,” said Mom, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “P-r-e-s-e-n-t spells an interesting word. It can be pronounced present, which is another word for gift, or it can be present, which means to give.”

Vivian laughed. “So when I give a gift, I present a present.”

Mom nodded. “That makes me think of a verse in the Bible—one that tells us to present ourselves to God.”

Vivian reached for more wrapping paper. “If we do that, are we making ourselves a present for Him? And if our lives are a present, we should make sure they’re filled with good things, right?”

“Well, actually, we have nothing good in ourselves to offer God,” Mom said. “We’re saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus’s goodness, not our own.”

“But the Bible tells us to do good things after we’re saved, doesn’t it?” asked Vivian.

“Yes,” Mom said. “When we put our faith in Jesus, He gives us His Spirit so we can show His love to others and serve Him.”

Vivian held up the present she had just finished wrapping. “So it’s not enough to just look good on the outside, like we’re wrapped in pretty paper. When we present ourselves to Jesus, He makes us good on the inside. That’s the kind of present God wants.”

“That’s right,” said Mom. “It’s what’s inside that counts.”

–Eunice C. Matchett

How about you? Has Jesus made you good on the inside? Or are you trying to make yourself look good on your own? You have nothing good in yourself, but when you trust Jesus as your Savior, He gives you His goodness and makes you a truly pleasing gift to God. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Then you can let others see His love and goodness in the way you live.

Today’s key verse: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Romans 12:1 (CSB)

Today’s key thought: Jesus makes you good