Keys for Kids Devotional: October/November/December 2018

By Keys for Kids Ministries

Is the fast pace of everyday life taking a toll on your family's spiritual health? This devotional helps kids learn about God's Word and be encouraged in their faith in just a few minutes each day. Take a break as a family and spend time in the nourishing truth of God's Word!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948021005

Book preview

Getting the most out of your devotional

Keys for Kids is a daily devotional created to read with your Bible. Try not to miss one day of devotions! It will help keep you closer to God’s path for your life.

We recommend reading the guiding Bible passages before and after reading the contemporary story. Really think about your answers to the questions that follow the stories.

Read the Key Verse. Then read it a few more times! Later, try to repeat it during your prayer time, and ask God to help you keep His Word in your heart.

This devotional is made possible by the generous support of donors who see the value of bringing God’s Word to kids and families. To give, visit keysforkids.org/donate, or call 616-647-4500 or toll free 888-224-2324.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked ERV taken from the Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version © 2014 by Bible League International. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLV are taken from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio, 44683. All rights reserved.

© 2018 Keys for Kids Ministries, Box 1001, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-1001. Printed quarterly in the USA.

Table of Contents

OCTOBER 1

Less Equals More

READ: MATTHEW 6:19-21

Lindsey burst through the door. Mom, I’m back! I got paid for walking Lilly. I have enough! Can we go to the mall before I go to Mrs. Stevens’ to pack up the donations for those flood victims? Please?

How about some downtime instead? said Mom. You’ve run yourself ragged all summer earning money for those Bangle Brights. How many does a girl need? Mom raised one eyebrow and looked pointedly at the numerous neon-colored bracelets that flashed and sparkled on Lindsey’s wrists. Each thin bangle fit tightly against another to form thick bands that ran up her forearms.

But Mom, Lindsey protested, you get four in a package, along with a code that unlocks a treasure on the website! They’re worth it. Besides, won’t it be cool if I’m the only girl who has all the sets before school starts?

Her mom shook her head a little. Oh, Lindsey, you know cool isn’t determined by stuff, she said softly. You belong to Jesus, and He makes you shine brighter than all the Bangle Brights in the world. She nodded toward the living room. Why don’t you go rest for a while before heading over to Mrs. Stevens’? We’ll go to the mall another time.

Lindsey went to the living room and turned on the television. But she didn’t watch it. She started thinking about stuff—all the stuff she had and what it would be like to lose every bit of it overnight.

Later that day, Lindsey peeked into Mrs. Stevens’ garage. She’d brought her new backpack filled with all her school supplies and two new school outfits. She had lots of clothes and could use her backpack from last year, and she’d replace the school supplies with the money she’d earned walking Lilly. The newest bangles could wait. These kids had lost everything in the flood.

CHARELLE WILSON

JESUS MAKES YOU SHINE

KEY VERSE: BUT DO NOT FORGET TO DO GOOD AND TO SHARE, FOR WITH SUCH SACRIFICES GOD IS WELL PLEASED. HEBREWS 13:16

What’s your definition of cool? Do you think having the latest and greatest stuff matters? Jesus said the things found in the world are not important because they won’t last forever. It’s just stuff. What really matters is who you are in Jesus. Ask Him to show you how you can share His love with someone today, and trust Him to make you shine!

OCTOBER 2

Bumper Crop

READ: JOHN 12:23-33; GALATIANS 5:22-23

Seth was helping his dad plant watermelon in the garden. He closed his eyes and licked his lips. I can almost taste it now, he said.

Dad chuckled. There’s nothing like planting your own watermelon. He handed Seth some more seeds. Here, plant these in the next row.

As he poked holes in the dirt, Seth furrowed his brows. Dad, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.

Sure, Seth. What is it?

Why did Jesus have to die to save us from our sins? Seth thrust up his hands and shook his head. I mean, I know why He did it, but couldn’t He have saved us another way that wasn’t so gruesome and painful?

Dad looked up and gazed across the garden, then stared at the seed in his hand. Finally he answered. Did you know that in order for you to have the delicious watermelon you love so much, this seed has to die?

The seed dies? asked Seth. It sounds so brutal.

Yes, said Dad. When you cover it up with dirt, the first thing it does is go through a dying process, and the outer shell of the seed breaks apart. Then it comes back to life as roots and a shoot sprout from the broken seed and a plant begins to grow. When the plant is fully grown, it begins producing fruit.

And you can get several watermelons from just one seed, said Seth.

Dad nodded. "It’s the same with Jesus. He had to shed His blood and die to take the punishment for our sins so we could live, grow, and bear fruit. Otherwise, we would remain spiritually dead.

Just like the seed dies so the vine can live and bear fruit, Seth added.

You’ve got it, said Dad. It’s only because of His death and resurrection that we’re able to have life and serve Him.

Seth started poking more holes and filling them with six seeds instead of the usual three.

What are you doing? Dad asked.

Patting the dirt in place, Seth exclaimed, I’m digging mass graves for the seeds so they’ll give us a bumper crop!

BETH ANNE INGRAM

JESUS DIED TO GIVE US LIFE

KEY VERSE: [MAY YOU BE] FILLED WITH THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. PHILIPPIANS 1:11 (NIV)

Have you been made alive in Jesus by accepting what He did for you on the cross? Are you bearing good fruit by showing His love to others? Jesus suffered, died, and rose again so that we could have eternal life with Him, and He fills the lives of those who trust in Him with a bumper crop of spiritual fruit. Trust Him to give you life and make you grow. (See Have You Heard the Good News? at the end of this book.)

OCTOBER 3

Princes and Princesses

READ: ROMANS 12:9-21; GALATIANS 5:22-23

Anissa curled up on the couch with her new book. I’m almost done reading this already, she told her brother. It’s about a princess who didn’t know she was a princess!

How can that be? Aaron asked. If I were a prince, I’m pretty sure I’d know it!

She was kidnapped as a baby, Anissa explained, but even after her family found her, she didn’t act like a princess. Her parents wanted her to live in their huge palace, but she wanted to stay with people she knew, so she kept on living in an old shack. The king and queen bought her beautiful new clothes, but she didn’t want to wear them. She just kept wearing her old ones, which were ragged and dirty.

Sounds like an interesting book, said Mom. And you know, sometimes we act that way ourselves.

I don’t wear raggedy old clothes, said Anissa. Besides, I’m not a princess.

Actually, in a way, you are, Mom replied. And Aaron is a prince.

Anissa giggled. And Dad’s a king, and you’re a queen?

Mom shook her head. "No, I’m a princess