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

Read: Luke 6:27-36

“Muffie!” yelled two-year-old Reya as she toddled into the living room. She plunked down on the floor next to Muffin, the family dog. Reya reached out a chubby hand and pulled Muffin’s fluffy brown tail. Muffin didn’t bite or even growl. She just moved away as quickly as she could, lying down by the fireplace. Reya followed. She tugged on Muffin’s ear. “Nice doggie,” she cooed. Muffin still didn’t growl or bite. Instead, she licked Reya’s knee with her rough tongue.

“Careful, Reya,” said Mom. She walked over, gently loosened the little girl’s hand, and helped her stroke the dog’s head. “Be nice to Muffin.”

“Why does Muffin put up with all that torture?” asked Charlotte, who was sitting on the sofa with a book.

“No matter how many times Reya pulls her tail or ears, Muffin puts up with it and doesn’t even growl at her.”

“Muffin loves Reya, just like she loves the rest of our family,” Mom replied.

Charlotte nodded. “Muffin sure is a good dog. I wouldn’t be so nice if I were her!”

“We’re blessed to have a faithful dog who is so loving and patient with Reya,” said Mom. She smiled as Reya laid her head down on Muffin’s back. “Muffin is a good example of how we all should treat other people—even those who don’t treat us well.”

“Like when people are mean to us?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes,” said Mom. “We need to do what the Bible teaches and show them love. Instead of trying to get even, we need to talk with them and resolve our issues in a calm way. Many times, people who hurt us don’t mean to—just like Reya doesn’t mean to hurt Muffin. But even when they’re mean to us on purpose, Jesus wants us to do good to them. He died to save us from sin when we were His enemies, and He wants us to treat others with the same kind of love. It’s not easy, but He promises to help us show His love to everyone.”

Charlotte smiled. “Love like Muffin’s?”

Mom smiled too. “Love even greater than that. Jesus is the only one who can give us humans the kind of love we need to treat others the way we’d like to be treated ourselves.”

–Wanda E. Brunstetter

How about you? Do you treat others the way you’d want to be treated? The key verse for today is called the Golden Rule, and it’s one of Jesus’s greatest commands. It can be hard to follow when someone treats you badly, but remember that Jesus was treated badly too. He died on a cross so He could save you! Trust Him to fill your heart with His love so you can treat others the way He would.

Today’s key verse: Do for other people what you would like to have them do for you. Luke 6:31 (NLV)

Today’s key thought: Love like Jesus

Read: James 5:16-18

“I wish I had a hundred dollars to put in the offering tomorrow!” Isabella told her mom. “The missionaries we’re collecting money for really need it, and I want to help them care for people and tell them about Jesus.”

“If you’ll clean the cupboards for me this afternoon, I’ll pay you—not a hundred dollars, but a little,” said Mom. “Have you prayed about the money you’d like to give?”

“Prayed for a hundred dollars?” asked Isabella. “No.”

“You should,” Mom said. “Trust God to provide whatever amount He wants you to give.”

Isabella was cleaning the cupboards when her friend Lillian came over. “I can play as soon as I finish cleaning this cupboard,” Isabella told Lillian. She sat down and looked at the cupboard. “I wish I was done.”

“Well, I’ll help you,” said Lillian. “That’ll do more good than wishing.”

“I know.” Isabella stood up. “I’m always wishing for things, and Mom keeps telling me that wishing doesn’t help. Praying does. So guess what I’m praying for now? A hundred dollars for the missionary offering!” She got down on her hands and knees to pull out something that was stuck in a corner of the cabinet. “Look,” she said, holding up an old penny. “This must be the start of the answer to my prayers!” The girls laughed at the joke.

The next morning, the only offering Isabella had was the old penny and the money Mom had paid her. All together, it was far from a hundred dollars.

That afternoon Lillian came over looking excited. “My dad helped count the offering this morning,” she told Isabella, “and he noticed that old penny. He collects coins, and he says it’s valuable—he said it might be worth over a hundred dollars! When I told Dad you were the one who gave it, he said I should tell you and give you a chance to take it back. Otherwise he can sell it and give the money to the missionaries.” She stopped to catch her breath. “So? Do you want it back?”

Isabella stared at her in amazement. “Of course I don’t want it back! I’m giving it to the missionary offering, whatever it’s worth.” She grinned. “I prayed for money to give, and God answered my prayer in a way I never expected!”

–Agnes Livezey

How about you? Are there things you wish were different? It doesn’t help to just wish for things. When you stop wishing and start praying, things happen. God works wonders when His people pray. That doesn’t mean He will always answer your prayers the way you want, but He will use your prayers to help you grow in your faith and show His love to those around you. Pray and trust Him to use your prayers for good.

Today’s key verse: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Pray and trust God

Read: James 4:4-10

“Hey there, Noah,” Mr. Davis called from his yard as Noah passed by his neighbor’s house. “Problems? You don’t look very happy.”

Noah walked over to talk with him. “My friends are all mad at me,” he said. “Some of my school friends told some of the kids at church that I said bad things about them.”

“And did you?” Mr. Davis asked.

“Well, the kids at school are always gossiping about people they know, so I started doing it too.” Noah wiped a hand across his eyes. “I didn’t want them to tease me for not joining in, so I told a few stories about the kids at church. The thing is, I didn’t even like it—I felt bad because they’re my friends and I knew it was wrong—but now they say I’m two-faced, and no one likes me anymore.”

Mr. Davis sighed. “Noah, you remind me of a chameleon—a lizard that changes colors. When it’s against the bark of a tree, it turns brown. When it’s against a leaf, it turns green. Now, God intended for chameleons to be that way so they could protect themselves from predators, but He didn’t intend for Christians to be like that. He wants us to show our true Christian colors all the time.”

“But it’s hard to be so different from the other kids,” Noah said.

“Well, Jesus never said it would be easy to follow Him. The Bible tells us that being a Christian often means people will make fun of us for loving Jesus and obeying Him. After all, Jesus was mocked by the very people He set out to save, and sometimes we’ll be treated badly too. That’s why we need to depend on Him for the strength to show our true colors instead of trying to blend in. When you refuse to join in your school friends’ gossip, you’re showing them how Jesus is helping you love others and treat them with kindness.”

Noah sighed. “I guess I should apologize to both my school friends and my church friends, huh?”

“I think that would be a good place to start,” Mr. Davis said. “And tell Jesus you’re sorry too. He’ll forgive you and help you show your true colors so others will know you belong to Him.”

–Barbara J. Westberg

How about you? Are you like a chameleon—trying to blend in with those around you? Depending on who you’re with, do you sometimes tell mean jokes and make fun of people, and other times act in a kind, loving way? As a Christian, Jesus wants you to show others His love all the time, not just when it’s convenient. Trust Him to help you let your true colors stand out.

Today’s key verse: Do not offer any part of yourself to sin…but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life. Romans 6:13 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Be true to Jesus

Read: Psalm 145:18-19; Romans 8:38-39

“It’s gone!” Abigail exclaimed one morning as she and her older sister walked to the school where they attended day camp. “They just put it up, and now it’s gone!” A huge telescope had recently been installed on a mountain near their town. The girls usually saw it clearly as they walked down their street.

Sophia laughed. “In this fog, lots of things are gone. They’re really just hidden by the fog. I’m sure we’ll be able to see the telescope by the time we walk home this afternoon.”

Sophia was right. As they walked home, the telescope was visible again, but by then Abigail had something else on her mind. “I don’t want to go to camp tomorrow,” she said. “There’s a girl in my craft class who doesn’t like me, and I’m scared of her. She’s mean!”

“Maybe I can stay with you most of the time tomorrow,” Sophia suggested.

“But we’re taking different craft classes—and you’re in a different age group,” Abigail replied. “You can’t stay with me all day.”

Sophia thought for a minute. “No, I can’t—but you know someone who can!”

“I do?” asked Abigail. “Who?”

“Think about the Bible verse we read in our family devotions last week—Jesus is always with us,” Sophia replied.

Abigail rolled her eyes at her sister. “I know that, but I can’t see Jesus!”

Sophia was quiet for a minute. Then she pointed toward the big telescope on the mountain. “We couldn’t see that telescope this morning, but it was there. And even though we can’t see Jesus, He’s there too. He loves us so much that He died for our sins, and He promises to always be with us.”

Abigail sighed. “Okay. You can stay with me until we have to split up for craft classes,” she said. Then she smiled. “And then I’ll remember that Jesus is with me the rest of the time—even though I can’t see Him.”

Sophia smiled at her sister. “Let’s talk to Mom when we get home. She might have more ideas about what to do about this girl who’s been bothering you.”

–Karen R. Locklear

How about you? Do you ever wish you could see Jesus? Perhaps when you have a nightmare or get lost in a store? Even when you face scary things, you can breathe a little easier just by thinking of one thing—the fact that even though you can’t see Him, Jesus is right there with you. He promises to always be with those who trust in Him, and He keeps His promises!

Today’s key verse: I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus is always with you

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:1-5

“Hey, kids, how about a camping trip to the mountains this weekend?” Dad asked enthusiastically at the dinner table one night.

“I’m in!” yelled Rico. He wanted to get his vote in before his older sister said something negative.

Sure enough, Cara frowned. “Dad, remember the last time we went camping? Our tent collapsed in the middle of the night because we didn’t put it up right, and the mosquitos nearly ate us alive.”

Rico giggled. “Don’t forget the night we camped on a beach. When the tide came in, water sloshed into our tent. Everything got soaked!”

“The scariest experience for me,” said Mom, “was lying in the tent listening to some animal making a racket outside. I was sure it was a bear.”

“But it was only a cute little raccoon!” Dad grinned. “Fun memories, huh? Reminds me of something I read in the Bible the other day about tents.” He got up to find his Bible.

“Really? The Bible talks about tents?” Rico asked.

“Yup. Here it is. Second Corinthians 5:1-5.” Dad read the passage aloud.

“You see?” Cara looked triumphant. “Even the Bible says tents are trouble!”

Mom laughed. “Except those verses are really comparing our bodies to tents. It’s saying that as long as we’re in our frail human skin, we’re at risk of experiencing all kinds of sicknesses, temptations, and hardships.”

“Right,” said Dad. “But don’t forget that it also says our weak bodies are temporary. We’ll only have them for as long as we live on this earth. One day, when Jesus returns, He will provide those who trust in Him with a new home—He’s going to get rid of sin, sickness, and death forever and make the whole world new. And there we will have perfect bodies. Invincible!”

“Like Superman!” shouted Rico. “Cool!”

“Well, in the meantime,” said Mom, “what do you say we trade the tent for a mountain lodge this weekend, maybe near a lake?”

Everyone cheered but Dad, who shrugged good-naturedly. “Okay, okay. I hear you! But we’re not through with camping. We’ve got plenty more adventures out there, just waiting for us!”

–Deborah Meroff

How about you? Have you ever thought of your body as a kind of tent? A tent is temporary—it’s meant to be used for a short time while you’re away from home. And this world is not our home—as Christians, our home is with Jesus. One day He will come back and make the world new so it can be our home forever, and He’ll give us perfect bodies that will never wear out! Until then, remember He’s with you in the temporary hardships you face.

Today’s key verse: For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened. 2 Corinthians 5:4 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Our weak bodies are temporary