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

Read: Psalm 25:8-14; Titus 2:11-14

Madison was sitting at her desk doing math homework when her little sister walked in. “I want to write numbers too,” said four-year-old Ava.

Smiling, Madison wrote the numbers from one to ten on a piece of paper. Then she took Ava’s hand and helped her begin to write. “One…two…”

Ava pulled her hand away. “I can do it!”

“Okay,” said Madison, going back to her homework. She had just finished her last problem when Ava began to cry. “What’s wrong?” Madison asked. Ava shoved her paper away. Her numbers were jumbled on the paper, many of them unrecognizable. “Let me help you,” Madison said, bending down to take Ava’s hand again.

“No!” Ava pulled away, grabbing the paper. “I want to do it myself.”

“Okay,” said Madison. “But I’m finished with my work, and I’m going to get something to drink. I’ll be back in a little while.”

Madison poured herself a glass of water and went to the family room, where her mother was sorting clothes. “I tried to help Ava write her numbers, Mom, but she wouldn’t let me. She’d rather cry because she can’t do it instead of letting me help her.”

Mom smiled. “Admitting we need help with something isn’t always easy.” She handed Madison some towels to fold. “Sometimes we’re a lot like Ava. Her numbers didn’t turn out right when she didn’t let you guide her, and our decisions often don’t turn out right when we don’t let Jesus guide us.”

“How does He do that?” asked Madison.

“Through what He says to us in the Bible, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds, and even through people He brings into our lives,” Mom replied. “We often think we need to do everything on our own, but that’s impossible. Jesus is the one who saved us from sin, which we could never do ourselves, and He wants us to bring all our problems and struggles to Him in prayer and trust Him to guide us and help us make good decisions.”

“I’m glad Jesus is always there to help us,” Madison said as she finished folding the towels. “Speaking of help, I’ll go see if Ava has changed her mind about trying to write numbers on her own.”

–Karen E. Cogan

How about you? Do you depend on Jesus as you go about your daily life? Or do you think you can do everything by yourself? Problems at home, difficulties at school, struggles with sin—Jesus wants you to bring all those things to Him in prayer instead of trying to tackle them on your own. Trust Him to guide you and help you do His will in every situation.

Today’s key verse: I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. Proverbs 4:11 (CSB)

Today’s key thought: We need Jesus’s help

Read: Matthew 9:10-13

“Singur invited me to his birthday party next Saturday,” Owen told his mom and older sister, Chloe. “He’s an awesome soccer player.” Owen pretended to headbutt a soccer ball into a goal, then raised his arms in victory.

“You could get him a hat with his favorite team’s logo on it,” Mom said.

Owen shook his head. “Singur always wears a turban. It’s part of his religion. He’s a sick.”

“He means Sikh, Mom.” Chloe slipped off the bandana that had been tied in her hair.

“Singur’s mom said I can spend the night after the party,” Owen said.

“What about church on Sunday?” Mom asked.

“I could go with Singur to his gurdwara. It’s like church.”

“A gurdwara is not a church,” Mom said. “Sikhism is a different religion from Christianity.”

“But that doesn’t mean Owen shouldn’t be friends with Singur, does it?” Chloe asked. “Didn’t Jesus make friends with all kinds of people?”

“He did,” Mom said, “and He shared God’s love with them. But He never participated in things they did that went against who He was. Sikhs don’t worship Jesus, so a gurdwara is not a place of worship for Christians. We need to be careful that the things we do with our friends are in step with our faith in Jesus. He saved us and made us His people, and we need to follow Him.”

“Give me your leg, Owen,” Chloe said. “I want to show you something.” She put her own leg next to Owen’s and tied their ankles together with her bandana. “You go left. I’ll go right.” When Owen tried to walk away from his sister, he fell. “You’re tied to Jesus, and you need to go in the same direction as Him,” Chloe said. “Otherwise you won’t go anywhere.”

Owen got to his feet. “Mom, I think I should go to Singur’s party and spend the night, but I’ll tell him I can’t go to his gurdwara because I have my own church to be part of.”

“Good thinking,” Mom said. “You might even get a chance to tell him about Jesus and what He’s done for you.”

Owen nodded. “And for his gift, I think I’ll get him a bandana with his favorite soccer team. It’ll work great for winning a three-legged race!”

–Holland Webb

How about you? Do you have friends who don’t know Jesus? How can you be a friend to them without going against who you are as a Christian? Jesus was friends with all kinds of people, but that doesn’t mean He went along with everything they did. Trust Him to give you wisdom in knowing how to be a good friend to others while remaining true to Him.

Today’s key verse: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Be a friend like Jesus

Read: Psalm 141:3; Ephesians 5:1-4

“I can’t believe it! I studied hard for that history test, and I only got a B!” Madelyn said as she and her mother walked Chestnut, their shaggy brown Yorkshire terrier. “But Ella said Jade cheated and got an A. It’s not fair!”

“Ella caught Jade cheating?” Mom asked.

“I don’t think she saw it happen, but Ella hears about everything. It must be true because Jade never gets A’s.”

They stopped to let Chestnut sniff the ground. The dog pulled the leash toward a cluster of white spheres anchored in the grass. They were dandelion seed heads. Madelyn picked a feathery globe and blew the seeds until only a bare stem remained.

“Look how far the seeds are traveling!” she exclaimed.

As Chestnut chased the flying seeds, Mom asked, “Do you know what happens when they land?”

“They’ll grow into yellow dandelions—pretty weeds!”

Mom nodded. “Isn’t it amazing? Those seeds look delicate, but they hold so much power—just like words that start gossip.”

“I know what you’re going to say, Mom—gossip spreads as easily as dandelion seeds. Now that I think about it, Ella told Jason and Hari about Jade. I told Alma, who is best friends with Jill, so she probably knows too.”

“See how words as flimsy as those seeds can take root and grow into gossip?”

Madelyn looked down. “When I was disappointed with my grade, talking about Jade somehow made me feel better. But I don’t feel good about it anymore. If Ella starts talking about Jade again, I’ll say I’d rather not talk about Jade behind her back.”

“That’s wise,” said Mom. “Jesus tells us to love one another the way He loves us, and that means we need to care about how our words affect others—even when it involves things that may be true. How would Jade feel if she knew you were telling people that she struggles to get good grades?”

Madelyn sighed. “She’d probably feel embarrassed and hurt—and she’d be even more hurt if she knew I spread gossip about her cheating because of it.” Madelyn looked at her mom. “I’ll ask Jesus to forgive me for listening to gossip and to help me not spread it myself. Instead of wasting time on gossip, I’ll use it to study and get that A!”

–Elena Dee

How about you? Do you spread gossip about others? A few words of gossip can quickly spread and take root—and hurt many feelings in the process. The next time you’re tempted to repeat something about someone that they’d find hurtful, stop and think about how much Jesus loves you. Then show that same love to others by not wasting time on gossip.

Today’s key verse: [Jesus said,] “You must love each other as I have loved you.” John 13:34 (NLV)

Today’s key thought: Don’t spread gossip

Read: Psalm 19:1-6; Ephesians 2:8-10

“Come here, Mr. Wiggle Worm,” Peter said as he put an earthworm in a can. “Hey, Dad, are worms good for anything besides bird food and fish bait?”

“Yes,” said Dad. “They help the earth breathe.”

Peter laughed. “Like lungs?”

“Not exactly, but as worms burrow through the ground, they let fresh air through the soil. The more they eat and digest the soil, the better it is for growing things. God has a purpose for everything.”

“Well, I’m glad one purpose for worms is to make bait,” said Peter. “We’ll catch more fish that way! This will be enough, won’t it?” Dad nodded, and they headed to the lake.

That evening the family enjoyed fish for supper. “Yum!” Peter said as he took a bite. “Fishing was so much fun! I wish I could skip school and go fishing every day.”

Mom laughed. “Now that would be overdoing it a little.”

“Besides, you like school,” said Peter’s sister, Ann.

“Yeah, except science,” Peter said. “I don’t agree with some of the things Mrs. Moore says. She thinks the universe came about on its own, but the Bible says God created everything, right?”

“That’s right,” said Mom. “The Bible tells us that the beauty and complexity of nature points to God, who planned everything and makes it all work together.”

Dad nodded. “Even though sin has affected creation in deep ways, we can see the goodness of God in everything He made.”

“Like worms and how they help things grow?” Peter asked.

“Right,” said Dad. “The sun is another example of God’s goodness. It’s just the right distance away so we can live comfortably. And seasons follow one another in perfect order. Only God could have planned everything so well.”

“And He has a special plan for people too, right?” asked Ann.

“Yes, He does!” Mom replied. “Jesus came and died for the whole world, and one day He’ll return and make all creation new so it’s no longer affected by sin. And He has a purpose for everyone who trusts in Him—a plan for how He wants each one of us to be part of His kingdom on earth.”

Dad nodded. “Because of Jesus, all of creation—down to the smallest earthworm—has a purpose in the kingdom of God.”

–Harry C. Trover

How about you? Did you know that God is in charge of everything? He’s the one who created the whole universe and makes it all work together. Though the sin we brought into the world causes a lot of problems, it won’t be around forever. Jesus died and rose again to save the world from sin, and He has a purpose for everything—including you! Trust Him and His plan for your life. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: For by [Jesus] all things were created…All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: God created everything with a purpose

Read: Psalm 126:1-6

“I met a new friend today, Daddy. She gave me her peach!” Charity reported gleefully. She grabbed her dad’s hand as they walked to their new apartment from her bus stop.

“Your first day at a new school, and already a new friend? Awesome!” Daddy answered. “Tell me about your friend—and this peach.”

Charity skipped to keep up with Daddy’s long legs. “Slow down, Daddy, and I’ll tell you!” Immediately Daddy shortened his stride. “Her name’s Esther. She gets free lunch in the cafeteria like me! But Esther doesn’t like peaches. When I asked for the one on her tray, she gave it to me. I couldn’t let it go to waste!”

They climbed the steps to their apartment.

Daddy laughed. “I know you like canned peaches. We have a couple of cans from the food bank. That can be today’s snack.” Daddy opened the apartment door. “God answered two prayers for you today, Charity—for a good day at a new school, and for a friend.”

Charity took off her school shoes and exchanged them for soft slippers. “You told me when I gave my life to Jesus last year that I could talk to Him anytime, about anything. He heard me, Daddy!”

Daddy pulled out a can opener. “He also showed us something important with Esther’s peach.”

“He did?”

“Yep. Even though Esther doesn’t like peaches, you didn’t want good food to be wasted. Sometimes we go through hard times, and even though we don’t like those struggles, God isn’t willing to let them go to waste.”

“God wants us to struggle?” Charity sounded confused.

“No, but He brings good out of difficult times. Jesus went through the most difficult thing of all when He died on the cross, and He did that to do the best thing we could ever imagine—save us from sin and make us God’s children. And He promises to use hard things in our lives for good.”

“Like having to say goodbye to old friends and leaving our old neighborhood?” Charity asked.

Daddy nodded. “God understands how hard that is, and we can trust Him to bring something good out of it. Like today when He brought you a new friend.”

Charity smiled. “And something else!”

“What?” Daddy placed a bowl of juicy peaches on the table.

“More peaches!”

–Allison Wilson Lee

How about you? Have you ever gone through tough times and wondered why God let it happen? We don’t always get answers to our “why” questions, but we can trust God in hard situations. God loves His children, and He’s good to us. He won’t let our struggles go to waste. He’ll bring something good out of sad circumstances as we grow in trusting Him.

Today’s key verse: Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: God brings good from hard times