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

Read: John 1:35-42

“Hey, Nicholas, wait up!” Wyatt called as he ran to catch up with a new boy in his class. “Didn’t you just move here from Chelton?”

“Yeah,” said Nicholas. “Got here last week.”

Wyatt beamed. “Isn’t that the hometown of Anthony Smith, the basketball player? Do you know him?”

“Oh yeah, I know Anthony,” Nicholas said, happy to meet someone who was interested in basketball.

“Chelton is a small town, so everybody knows everybody. I’ve seen Anthony play lots of times, and he even helped coach my team at basketball camp when he was in high school. He taught me everything I know about basketball.”

Wyatt and Nicholas became close friends. If they weren’t playing ball, they were talking about it and hoping they could see Anthony Smith play. Nicholas always spoke proudly of his friendship with the famous basketball player. “My mom says I listen to him better than I do to her,” he said with a grin.

Soon the boys’ parents made plans to see Anthony Smith play. Their families would sit together in the bleachers close to the court. Everyone was looking forward to the big day.

On the Sunday before the game, Wyatt could hardly contain himself as he shared the news with his class at church. “Guess what! I’m going to meet Anthony Smith!”

“The basketball player?” asked his teacher, Mr. Jones.

“Yes! My friend Nicholas knows him,” said Wyatt. “We have tickets to see him play this week!”

“No way!” said one of the boys.

Wyatt nodded. “Nicholas talks about Anthony all the time. Since he knows him, I’ll get to meet him after the game!”

“That’s great, Wyatt!” said Mr. Jones. “And that’s also a good intro for what we’re going to talk about in class today—the importance of telling others about Jesus. Your friend Nicholas is a good example of someone who is eager to talk about an important person he knows. Are we just as eager to tell people that we know Jesus? He’s the Creator of the universe who became human and died for our sins so we could have a relationship with Him. When we share how exciting it is to know Jesus, we give others an opportunity to know Him too.”

–Jan L. Hansen

How about you? Are you eager to tell your friends about important people you know? What about Jesus—do you tell others you know Him? Today’s Bible reading tells how Andrew brought his own brother to meet Jesus. You can introduce a brother, sister, or friend to Jesus too! Tell them how wonderful it is to know Him personally and that they can know Him too.

Today’s key verse: The believers…preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Acts 8:4 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Share Jesus with others

Read: Philippians 4:6-8; James 5:13-16

“Mom! Amara’s in her closet crying,” called out Sadie. “She was fussing all the way home from school too!”

Sadie and Amara shared a bedroom, and Amara often hid in her side of the closet when she was upset or wanted to be alone.

Pulling back a few dresses, Mom peered into the closet. Tears were streaming down Amara’s face, and her arms were wrapped around her bent knees. Mom gently touched Amara’s arm. “Hey, sweetie, what’s the matter?”

Through her tears, Amara muttered, “A kid at school cussed at another kid. The bad words keep coming into my head.” Amara wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Why doesn’t it go away?”

Mom crawled into the closet and held Amara. “Oh, Amara, sometimes that happens to us. When it does, we need to remember that we belong to Jesus, whose sacrifice on the cross covers all our bad thoughts—those we think on purpose and those we don’t. Let’s ask Him to help you with this.”

Mom closed her eyes and held Amara’s hands. “Dear Jesus, please help Amara know You love her and that You can help stop these bad words in her mind. Your Word tells us to share our problems with others and pray. Please help her as she struggles with these bad thoughts. Thank you, Lord. Amen.”

Mom gave Amara a hug. “You know, Amara, another thing that can help with upsetting thoughts is the Bible. There’s a verse in Philippians that tells us to think about good things, and that can help bad thoughts go away. When we read and memorize God’s Word, it helps us focus on Jesus, who promises to be with us in our struggles and give us grace.”

Mom picked up Amara’s teddy bear and wiggled it. She gave the bear a silly voice: “Amara, do you want to go find Sadie and have some ice cream with me?”

Amara smiled and nodded.

The rest of the day, Amara was her happy self, singing and playing with Sadie.

During bedtime prayers, Amara said, “Jesus, thank You for loving me and helping me think about good things.”

–Carrie Hetzel

How about you? Did you know you can talk to God about anything? No matter what you’re struggling with, He wants to hear about it and help you. Sometimes our thoughts can be troubling and scary, and it can be helpful to tell a doctor or trusted adult about how we’re feeling too. God wants us to share our struggles with one another so we can pray and point each other to the truth and love of Jesus. Let His promises in the Bible remind you that He’s with you and offers you grace in every situation.

Today’s key verse: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Seek help with struggles

Read: Hebrews 13:5-6

Daniel tightened his helmet and straddled his all-terrain vehicle.

“The gas tanks are full,” his older brother Tim shouted over the engine roar. “Let’s tear up the trails.”

Daniel kick-started his engine and revved the motor. “Oh yeah. I have a need for speed.”

“Follow me,” Tim called. He hit the gas, spinning the tires and shooting dirt and gravel everywhere.

They steered their ATVs onto the old freight train route, which had long been abandoned. The wood ties and steel rails had been removed years ago, leaving miles of continuous trails. After several miles, they entered a secluded clearing with a dozen old abandoned train cabooses nearly hidden from view. They both skidded to a stop, cut their engines, and pulled off their helmets.

“It looks like a caboose graveyard,” Daniel said.

Tim nodded. “Let’s explore.”

They set their helmets on the ATVs and cautiously walked toward the cabooses.

“You think there’s anything—or anyone—living inside them?” Daniel asked.

“We’ll know in a minute,” Tim said. “The first caboose has a broken door. Let’s go inside.”

Tim pushed the door. It creaked as it opened, sounding like a haunted house. “This is so cool,” he said.

They checked each caboose. They were all identical, with fading paint, cracked windows, and sagging doors. Daniel scratched his head. “Why would anyone abandon them?”

Tim picked up a piece of rotting wood. “Somebody felt they weren’t important anymore.”

“I’m glad that Jesus doesn’t feel that way about us,” said Daniel.

Tim tossed the wood into the tall grass. “The Bible says Jesus will never abandon us.”

Daniel smiled. “No matter what trail of life we’re on!”

“That’s right,” Tim said. “He loved us enough to die on the cross for our sins. We’re always important to Him.”

Daniel looked at the darkening sky. “We’d better head back. But I hate to just leave these things. I wonder if I can adopt a caboose.”

Tim laughed. “Have fun getting it home!”

–Matt Shoemaker

How about you? Have you ever experienced the feeling of being abandoned? People can do hurtful things that make us feel like we’re not important, but Jesus promises never to abandon those who trust in Him. He died for you and rose from the dead so you could have life with Him forever! No matter where you go or what you do, He promises to always be with you. You are important to Him.

Today’s key verse: Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalm 9:10 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Jesus will never abandon us

Read: Psalm 121; Isaiah 41:10

“Wow, Dad! Did you see those fish?” Maya’s eyes sparkled as she lifted her face out of the water and adjusted her snorkeling mask.

“I sure did!” Dad said. “Those little blue ones look like some they have in aquariums at the pet store.”

“And I almost touched one of those black-and-yellow-striped ones!” Maya was bubbling with excitement.

Dad looked at the setting sun. “Well, it’s getting late. We’d better start swimming back to shore. Are you ready?”

“So soon? Well, okay. Bet I can beat you back!” They started toward shore, but it was farther away than Maya had realized. “Dad, can we rest a minute?” she called out after a while.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Dad said as he swam up beside her. “If we do, this current may take us too far off shore. Here—” Dad stretched out his hand. “I’ll pull you along.” Soon they reached shore, tired but safe.

When they got home, Maya told her mother about their afternoon. “It’s a good thing Dad was there to tow me in to shore,” she said. “I was really tired!”

Mom smiled. “You know, I needed a little towing myself this afternoon.”

Maya looked at her in surprise. “You did?”

Mom nodded. “I was preparing the lesson I have to teach at church this week, and I felt like quitting. God used a phone call from a friend and some verses I read in the Bible to encourage me. It’s like I was towed back to a better attitude.”

“Sometimes Christians can get a little weary of doing things we know are right,” said Dad. “There are times when we need encouragement and help to move us along.”

“I know where I’d go for encouragement and help,” said Maya. “You and Mom!”

Dad chuckled. “Good. We’ll help as much as we can. God often uses other Christians to help us when we struggle against the current of temptation or difficult circumstances. But there’s an even better source of help we can run to—Jesus Himself. He saved us, and we need to learn to depend on Him in every circumstance. He’s always there to encourage us and pull us along.”

–Richard S. Maffeo

How about you? Do you sometimes get discouraged in living the Christian life? Do you struggle with temptation or get made fun of for doing what’s right? When you need help and encouragement, turn to Jesus. He may use a Bible verse or another Christian to encourage you. Whenever you’re feeling down, trust Him to be with you and give you the help you need.

Today’s key verse: I [God] am with you…I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Look to Jesus for help

Read: Ephesians 4:26-32

The baseball blasted off Logan’s bat like a rocket.

“Nice shot,” Jayden said.

The ball crashed through the upstairs window of the Cooleys’ house. Mrs. Cooley screamed, and a man’s shouts filled the air.

Logan dropped his bat. “We’re dead. Let’s get out of here.”

Jayden was already tightening his shoe laces. “If we’re gonna run, it’s now or never.”

Mr. Cooley appeared from inside the broken window. “Stay right there, Jayden!” he yelled. “I’m coming down. You’re gonna pay for this!”

Jayden froze. “How does he know my name?” he asked Logan.

The boys moved closer together as Mr. Cooley stepped into the yard and stomped toward them.

“Guess you won’t have to wash the window today, dear,” Mrs. Cooley called from inside.

Mr. Cooley stopped—and smiled. “She’s been wanting me to clean that thing all day, but I didn’t want to pull out the ladder. You two may have done me a favor.”

Logan looked at Mr. Cooley nervously. “We’ll pay for the damages,” he said.

Mr. Cooley sighed. “I really erupted like Mount St. Helens, didn’t I?”

Jayden scratched his head. “Who’s St. Helen? Your wife?”

Mr. Cooley laughed. “No. Not my wife. Mount St. Helens is a volcano in Washington State that blew it’s top in 1980. It was one of the largest natural disasters in US history.” He shook his head. “Sorry, boys. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. It was wrong.”

“You’re saying sorry—to us?” Jayden asked. “But we busted your window!”

“And I overreacted,” said Mr. Cooley. “The Bible has a lot to say about anger. While it’s okay to feel angry, we shouldn’t let our anger cause us to sin and keep us from showing others God’s love.” He smiled at the boys. “It’s clear I’m still learning lessons about controlling my anger.”

Jayden smiled back. “That’s okay.”

“And you boys need to learn some lessons too,” Mr. Cooley said. “Like not to play baseball too close to houses.” Mr. Cooley held up the ball and pointed to Jayden’s name written on it. “And to never write your name on a ball if you’re going to send it through a window.” He winked. “There are too many hotheads living around here!”

–Matt Shoemaker

How about you? Do you have trouble controlling your anger? Does your temper erupt like a volcano? It’s natural to get angry, but letting anger lead to hurtful and unkind words does a lot of damage and keeps you from showing others God’s love. When you feel like you’re about to blow your top, stop and remember how much Jesus loves you. Then trust Him to help you love others the way He does.

Today’s key verse: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Control anger