Keys for Kids Devotional: April/May/June 2017

By Keys for Kids Ministries

With Keys for Kids devotions, you'll learn more about God's love every day! Read a fun story and keep God's Word in your heart with the Key Verse of the day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9780997399844

Book preview

APRIL 1

No Fooling

READ: MATTHEW 7:17-23

Sara yawned as she came into the kitchen. Her brother Joe glanced at her mischievously, then looked out the window. Hey, Sara, how’d your bike end up on the roof of the garage? he asked.

"What? Sara ran to the window to see for herself. Where?"

April fool! Joe laughed in delight. Got ya!

Sara grinned and gave her brother a soft punch on the arm as they sat down to eat.

At dinner, Sara and Joe talked about the April Fools’ jokes kids played on each other at school. It’s fun to have a day where everyone plays jokes like that, said Joe.

As long as no one takes the jokes too far, Dad said.

Nobody did, Sara assured him, and everyone was expecting it since it was April Fools’ Day. She paused to take a bite of broccoli. But then there’s Louise. Today she was all smiles and sweetness to Mrs. Potter during math class, but then made fun of her during recess. Sometimes I don’t know what to make of her. She’s supposed to be a Christian, but there are times she doesn’t seem to act like one. Like she’s just fooling people.

Dad frowned. I can think of three people right here who don’t always act like Christians. Let’s keep that in mind. It’s possible for any one of us to fool others.

But I’ve seen Louise do that stuff too, said Joe. She acts one way around the teachers and another when they’re not looking. It’s hard to trust her.

Careful now, said Dad. Are you sure you’re not exaggerating? I’ve always liked Louise. She seems to be a very nice girl.

She can be, said Sara. But it seems like there’s another side to her that only some of us see.

HAZEL W. MARETT

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FOOL GOD

KEY VERSE

THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS. 2 TIMOTHY 2:19

ARE YOU FOOLING SOMEONE INTO THINKING YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN? You may fool your parents, pastor, teachers, and classmates, but you can never fool God. He knows exactly what’s in your heart. Admit your need for a Savior and trust in Jesus today! (See Have You Heard the Good News? at the end of this book.)

APRIL 2

A Walk in the Woods

READ: COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

How about coming to church with me next week, Madeline?" Amber asked her friend as they walked up a wooded hill looking for wildflowers to identify for their science homework.

Madeline shook her head. My parents believe you can get close to God walking in the woods instead of sitting in a stuffy old building and reading an out-of-date book, she said. I think they’re right.

Well, we can learn a lot about God through creation, Amber said, but we need to know what God says in the Bible too. And it’s not outdated!

Madeline shrugged. My dad says it’s better our way. She pointed to a spot along the path where flecks of color stuck out from small green plants covering the ground. Look, wildflowers!

Amber bent over and picked a small purple flower. Let’s see if we can find pictures of these in the wildflower book we brought from school.

Oh no, I left it at my house! Madeline said. We should walk back and get it.

Amber shook her head. Nah. That book was probably written before we were even born. Why bother reading such an out-of-date book when we have all these flowers right in front of us?

But how will we know what flowers these are without the book? Madeline asked. It may be an old book, but the information in it is still true. Wildflowers don’t change!

And God doesn’t change, either, Amber replied. Everything the Bible says about Him is still true. Just like we can’t identify any of these wildflowers without a guidebook, we can’t know the Creator of the universe without the Bible.

Well, I… Madeline didn’t know what to say.

Even though creation teaches us some things about God, it doesn’t give us the whole story, said Amber. We need to read the Bible for that. It’s the story of who Jesus is and how much He loves us and all He’s done for us. Amber twirled the purple flower between her fingers. So how about it? Will you go to church with me this week?

LINDA WEDDLE

THE BIBLE REVEALS GOD

KEY VERSE

THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER. 1 PETER 1:25

DO YOU THINK CREATION TELLS US MORE ABOUT GOD THAN READING THE BIBLE OR GOING TO CHURCH? It’s good to appreciate God’s beautiful creation, but it can’t teach you everything He wants you to know and believe. That’s why He gave us the Bible—it tells us who Jesus is and how much He loves us. When you know that, you’ll appreciate everything He’s made—and all He’s done for you—even more!

Journal It!

Even though creation teaches us some things about God, it doesn’t give us the whole story…We need to read the Bible for that. It’s the story of who Jesus is and how much He loves us and all He’s done for us."

–Amber in today’s story

God is very good. He created the universe and filled it with good things He wants us to enjoy that point to Him and bring Him glory (Genesis 1:1, 26-28, 31). Then He gave us His Word, the Bible, so we could get to know Him and have a relationship with Jesus (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Read Psalm 19. What does this passage say about creation? What does it say about God’s Word (or the things God says or commands)?

What’s your favorite part of creation? (If you want, you can draw a picture of it on a piece of paper.) How does it remind you of who God is?

What’s your favorite part of the Bible? Why? What does it show you about God?

It’s important to base our ideas about God on His Word, the Bible, because the Bible is the only place where God reveals Himself as He wants to be known—through Jesus. God is the One who wrote the Bible, and He is good and does not lie (Psalm 34:8; John 17:17; Titus 1:2). What He says lasts forever (Isaiah 40:6-8).

Gather your family or friends and see if you can find Bible passages together that describe very clearly who God is. Then go on a nature walk together. What new things do you see? Jot down the things you see that remind you of who God is.

Creation points us to God, our powerful and good Creator (Isaiah 40:25-31; Romans 1:18-20). Then His Word shows us the rest of what we need to know about Him as we live in relationship with Jesus. He loves us very much, and those who know Jesus look forward to a new heaven and new earth when He returns (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; 2 Peter 3:9-13; Revelation 21:1-8, 27).

APRIL 3

The Scratched-Up Skateboard

READ: PSALM 51:1-19

I didn’t mean to hurt your oh-so-special skateboard, Grady! Jared told his brother. You don’t have to get so mad!"

I told you to leave it alone! shouted Grady.

Well, a skateboard is meant to jump and ride rails and stuff, said Jared. All you do is coast down the street on it. Why don’t you try out this ramp I built?

Just then Dad came out to the garage. Dad! said Grady. Jared scratched up my new skateboard. I told him not to take it on that ramp, but he did anyway, and now it’s a mess!

I couldn’t help it, Grady—I didn’t fall on purpose. Jared pointed to his chest. Besides, look what happened to my shirt when I fell off the board. There are grass stains all over it!

Dad examined the skateboard. Grady, why don’t you get some of those decals you’ve been collecting and stick them on your skateboard? They should cover most of these scratches, and then the board will look great! I’ll help you with it, okay? Grady looked relieved as he nodded. Then Dad turned to Jared. Do you want some white paint to put over those stains on your shirt?

Paint? Jared shook his head. Of course not! These stains will have to be washed out—not covered up.

I agree, said Dad, but do you know that the wrong things you do shouldn’t be covered up either? You shouldn’t have scratched up Grady’s skateboard, but we’re making the best of it with the sticker idea. But instead of accepting responsibility and apologizing, you made excuses, even complained about what your stunt had done to your shirt. You were trying to cover up the wrong thing you did, weren’t you?

Well, I—I guess so, admitted Jared. I’m sorry, Grady.

LYNDEL F. WALKER

ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS

KEY VERSE

SCRUB AWAY MY GUILT. WASH ME CLEAN FROM MY SIN.

I KNOW I HAVE DONE WRONG. PSALM 51:2-3

WHEN YOU’VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG, DO YOU ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY? Or do you look for someone else to blame? Don’t do that! Learn to say, It’s my fault. I’m sorry. Admit it when you’ve done something wrong, and ask God and others to forgive you. That’s far better than making excuses or blaming others for what you’ve done. God will forgive you—and if you’re truly sorry, others usually will too.

APRIL 4

What You’re Worth

READ: EPHESIANS 1:3, 7; 1 PETER 1:18-19

Sold! proclaimed the fast-talking auctioneer, and Logan grinned at his mother. He found auctions fun and interesting, so he hadn’t minded when she wanted to stop and see what was happening at this antique auction. Another broken piece of junk sold to the highest bidder," Logan murmured.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Mom told him. Logan shrugged and continued sitting on his hands as the auctioneer began selling an autographed baseball. Logan had learned to avoid lifting his hand during the bidding. Earlier he had started to scratch his head and the auctioneer thought he was bidding on the item being auctioned.

As they drove home after the auction, Logan asked his mom why people were so willing to spend their money on other people’s junk. I can’t believe how much they’ll pay for that stuff, he said. I thought a few things they sold at the auction were cool, but people paid less for them than for stuff I wouldn’t want if it were given to me! Who decides how much those things are worth?

The condition of the piece is important, said Mom, and whether the item is rare or not is also a factor. But the bottom line is…well, how much someone is willing to pay for it. That’s really what determines how much an item is worth.

Logan thought for a moment. That’s kinda like something we talked about in my class at church last week, he said. Our teacher explained that God sent Jesus to die for us—to pay for our sins with His own life. I guess that makes us worth a lot!

Mom smiled. I like that, Logan, she said. I think you got a lot from that auction—even though you didn’t buy anything.

Logan had one more question. Um, Mom, what did I almost buy today when I scratched my head?

An old record player, Mom said.

MIKE A. DIZE

YOU’RE WORTH WHAT JESUS PAID FOR YOU

KEY VERSE

YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE; THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU’RE WORTH? Because of what Jesus did for you, you’re worth a lot—He paid a huge price for you! He gave His life to pay the price of your sin. Have you responded to that great love? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, trust in Him today! (See Have You Heard the Good News? at the end of this book.)

APRIL 5

Silly Goose

READ: PSALM 133

You chose last time!" yelled Jill.

I did not! said Susannah. You did!

I guess I remember better than you. Jill stomped over to the back porch and sat down. She and Susannah were cousins, but they didn’t always get along very well.

Jill’s brother Theo came out and sat down next to her. What’s going on? he asked. Another argument?

Susannah is so bossy, said Jill. She never wants to do what I want to do. She frowned as she glanced at Susannah, who was walking toward the swing set.

Just then a line of wild geese, honking loudly, flew high overhead.

I wonder what their problem is. They sound terrible! said Theo. Maybe one of them wanted to be the boss and butted its way to the front of the line.

Don’t they take turns being the leader? asked Jill.

They’re supposed to, said Theo. "But maybe one of them was counting the number of times he had been the leader and decided he wasn’t getting his fair share of