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

Read: Exodus 20:3-17; Galatians 3:19-22

Graham set a large birthday present on his knees and shut the car door. Mom fastened her seat belt and turned to Graham. “You don’t have your seat belt on.”

“I can’t reach it while I’m holding this present,” said Graham. “It’s only two blocks to Cameron’s house, so I don’t need it anyway.”

“Oh yes, you do! A lot of accidents happen close to home, and a seat belt could save your life. Here, let me help you.” Mom reached over and buckled his seat belt. “There. Now we can go.” She started the car. “Seat belts were put in cars to protect us. And don’t forget—the law says we have to use them.”

“The law,” repeated Graham. “That sounds like something we talked about in church—God’s law. God gave us rules like the Ten Commandments to protect us and help us live good lives, but no one could obey them, so that’s why Jesus had to die for us. Or something like that—I didn’t understand all of it.”

Just then a ball bounced into the street in front of them. Mom hit the brakes and the car screeched to a stop—inches away from a little boy who had dashed after the ball. Graham lurched forward, but his seat belt tightened, holding him back. The little boy grabbed the ball and ran back into his yard.

“If you hadn’t made me wear my seat belt, I would have smashed right into the dashboard!” said Graham.

Mom nodded and started driving again. “Good thing you obeyed the law and had your seat belt on. But were you able to buckle it yourself?”

“No,” said Graham. “I was holding Cameron’s present, so you had to buckle it for me.”

“And that’s what Jesus does for us,” said Mom. “Sin is like that present you’re holding—it makes us unable to obey God’s law. None of us is good enough to have eternal life with God. That’s why Jesus had to pay for our sin on the cross. When we trust in Him, He buckles His goodness around us like a seat belt and saves us!”

“Oh—I get it now!” Graham smiled. “Thanks for buckling my seat belt, Mom—you saved me! And I’m thankful Jesus saved me too.”

–Eunice C. Matchett

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Psalm 56:3-4, 8-11

Nico grinned as his sister lay back on her inflatable raft. “I’m going to pop your float,” he told her. “You’ll sink.”

Maya smiled, unfazed. “My life jacket will hold me up.”

“What if I take the life jacket?” Nico asked.

Maya shrugged. “It still won’t matter. This is the shallow end, and the water only reaches up to my waist.”

“Well then, maybe I’ll just pick you up and dunk you under,” said Nico.

Maya grinned and pointed to Mom sitting at the side of the pool. “With Mom there, I’ll be just fine.”

A while later, Mom’s phone rang. “Time to go inside, kids,” she said after she hung up. “I need to go pick Dad up from work. He just called to say he feels really sick, so I’m going to take him to the emergency room.”

Maya and Nico gave each other worried looks. “Okay, Mom,” Nico said.

Mom was gone quite a while, and when she returned home, Dad wasn’t with her. “What’s wrong with Dad?” asked Maya anxiously.

“We don’t know for sure yet, but they admitted him as a patient at the hospital,” replied Mom. “Hopefully it’s nothing serious.”

Nico felt nervous too. “What if it is really serious?” he asked. “Aren’t you scared, Mom?”

“Of course I am,” said Mom. “But I’m thankful to know that God is in control and no matter what happens, Dad—and each of us—will be okay because we’re in God’s hands. We’ll pray for Dad, and we need to trust God to take care of him.”

“But what if something’s really wrong with Dad?” asked Nico. “How could that ever be okay?”

“Earlier today I heard you teasing your sister in the pool,” Mom told him. “But Maya knew that no matter what you did, she’d be okay because I was there and would take care of her. Well, we can have absolute confidence that no matter what happens, we’ll be okay because Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life. He will always be with us and take care of us—even if the worst were to happen. We’re safe in His hands.”

–Nance E. Keyes

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Today's Key Thought

Read: Psalm 32:1-5

"Ouch!” cried Wren as she climbed into the tree house her dad was building. Dad stopped hammering and raised his brow. “I hurt my finger,” Wren said.

“Let me take a look.” Dad put his hammer down and studied her finger. “You’ve got a sliver, but don’t worry, I’m an expert sliver remover! Just as soon as I’m finished here, I’ll take it out.”

“Not a good idea,” said Dad, digging through his toolbox. He frowned. “That’s strange. My tape measure isn’t in here. Well, I can work without it for now.”

“Tape measure?” Wren asked, suddenly feeling guilty. And as the afternoon wore on, she felt more and more guilty. She knew what had happened to the tape measure.

“Dad, this sliver really hurts,” Wren said that evening. “I think I need help from an expert sliver remover after all.”

“Oh, that’s right—I forgot about your sliver!” Dad got out the tweezers. “Slivers don’t go away on their own.” Wren winced as he pricked her skin. “There,” Dad said. “It’s out.”

Wren looked at the tiny fleck Dad was holding. “I can’t believe something that small could hurt so bad,” she said.

“This little sliver reminds me of what we call ‘little’ sins,” said Dad. “We think they don’t really amount to much and shouldn’t hurt anybody. But if we’re sensitive to how Jesus wants us to love others, they cause us grief until we confess them and get them removed. We could call them sin slivers.”

Wren sighed. “Dad, I…” She hesitated. “I need another sliver removed—a sin sliver that’s been bothering me all day. I took your tape measure. I know I’m not supposed to go in your toolbox, but I used it to take measurements for a treasure map, and then I lost it in the woods. I’m sorry. I should have told you right away.”

“So that’s where it went!” said Dad. “Well, I’ll have to get another tape measure, but at least I won’t be hunting for that one anymore. I’m glad you told me, and I forgive you. Even better—Jesus promises to forgive the sins we confess too.”

–Jody Hedlund

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Ephesians 5:8-20

The girls in Cabin 9 were walking down the path to the campfire at Bible camp when Gabby pointed up at the sky. “Look at the moon tonight! Yesterday there was no moonlight at all in the sky, but today there is a bright sliver of light.”

Her counselor, Jami, nodded. “It has started to reflect the sun’s light, and tomorrow it will reflect more light and keep growing until it’s a full moon.”

They reached the campfire and found their seats. They sang silly songs and laughed as they roasted marshmallows, then listened as the camp director told them about Jesus.

A warm feeling filled Gabby as she listened to the director speak. She suddenly knew that she wanted to trust in Jesus. She moved a little closer to Jami and asked her to pray with her to ask Jesus to forgive her for her sins. Jami gave her a hug as they knelt down to pray.

Later that night, as they walked back to the cabin, Jami smiled and pointed up at the moon. “Gabby, now that you trust in Jesus, your faith is like that moon. Just as the moon reflects the sun’s light, our lives reflect the love of Jesus. Yesterday, like the moon, you had no light, but today God’s love and goodness have started to shine through you.”

Gabby stared up at the moon. “I’m so excited to have Jesus in my life, but what do I do when I get home?” she asked.

“As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, His light will grow inside you,” said Jami. “Just as a crescent moon grows into a bright full moon, you’ll begin to reflect Him more and more. When you get home, keep getting to know Jesus better and learning more about Him. Go to church and spend time with other Christians, and read your Bible and pray every day. As your faith and understanding grow, you’ll become more like Jesus and reflect more of His light, just like that moon.”

Gabby pondered Jami’s words. “Wow,” she said. “I can’t wait to get to know Jesus even better! And now that I know Him, I know He’ll be with me and help me shine every day.”

–Bethany Den Boer

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Romans 12:6-8

I heard the kids’ choir at church is holding auditions next week,” Mom said as Milo set the table for dinner. “Why don’t you try out? I know how much you love to sing, and they could sure use you.”

Milo shrugged. “I’m sure those kids are way better than me, so why bother? I’ll just stick to singing in the shower.”

“I found out more about badgers!” Anna announced when they sat down to dinner. “Have you ever heard of a honey badger?”

“No, but I’m guessing it’s called a honey badger because it likes honey,” said Milo.

“Right!” said Anna. “The honey badger has a bird friend called a honeyguide. When the honeyguide finds a beehive full of honey, it leads the way to it. Then the honey badger uses its claws to break open the hive and eat the honey.”

“Does the honeyguide get some of the honey too?” asked Milo. Anna shook her head. “Well, that doesn’t seem fair!” said Milo. “The honey badger should share the honey.”

“But the honeyguide doesn’t want the honey,” said Anna. “It wants the beeswax and the bees’ eggs and larvae in the honeycomb, and that’s what the honey badger leaves behind.”

“Interesting,” said Dad. “So each one helps the other, and by helping each other they both benefit.”

“You know, we’re supposed to do the same thing as Christians,” said Mom. “Just like the bird is able to locate honey and the honey badger has claws to open the hive, God has blessed us with different talents and abilities. He wants us to use them to help others and point them to Jesus. When we keep our gifts to ourselves instead of sharing them with others, everyone misses out—both us and the people who would have benefited from them.”

Milo sighed. “You’re talking about me trying out for the kids’ choir, aren’t you?” He put down his fork. “Okay, maybe I’ll give it a try—I wouldn’t want to keep a gift God gave me all to myself when I could use it to help others. I might make new friends and learn more about music too. That sounds better than just singing in the shower!”

–Tanya Ferdinandusz

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Romans 12:9-18

"What are you reading about?” asked Anna as she peered over her brother’s shoulder to see what was on his computer screen. “Oh, look at that little animal! He’s so cute!”

“Stop saying everything is cute!” said Milo. “That’s a badger, and badgers are interesting, not cute!”

Anna sniffed. “Well, I think that badger is cute. What do you find so interesting about it?”

“Well, this article says that when badgers make their homes underground, they dig dens that are interconnected by a whole maze of burrows and passages. I think that’s pretty cool!”

“That is cool,” said Anna. “That means they can visit each other without having to go above ground.”

Milo nodded. “And it says badgers are nocturnal animals, which means—”

“I know what it means,” said Anna. “It means they’re awake at night and sleep during the day.”

“Right. And listen to this. ‘If a badger is away from home at daybreak, he may stay and rest with another badger family for a while before heading back to his own den.’ They must be hospitable animals.”

“Hospitable? What does that mean?” asked Anna.

“You know—making guests feel comfortable and at home,” said Milo.

“Oh! Like how we took care of the missionaries who stayed with us last month.” Anna laughed. “Maybe the traveling badgers are missionary badgers!”

“Listen to this,” said Milo. “Badgers sometimes even allow a fox to stay in their den!”

“Hmm,” said Anna. “I can’t think of anything to compare that to!”

“I can,” said Milo. “It might be like inviting someone you don’t know very well to come over and play—like those new kids who just moved in down the street.” Milo glanced out the window thoughtfully. “In my class at church, we talked about how being kind and welcoming to others shows them Jesus’s love. He welcomed us into His family when we were outsiders, and He wants us to welcome others and help them feel at home. We even learned a verse that says to practice hospitality.”

“Let’s ask Mom if we can invite the new kids over,” said Anna. She grinned and pointed toward the TV room. “I’m sure we can make them feel at home in our den!”

–Tanya Ferdinandusz

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Matthew 14:13-21; Ephesians 2:1-7

When Emma came into the living room, tears were falling from Mom’s eyes onto her lap. Dad sat next to her with a hand on her shoulder. “It’s Grandma,” he told Emma. “She died in the hospital this morning.”

Emma stared out the window. With Grandma gone, who’d come visit every month? Who’d cook her favorite foods, or go on bike rides and picnics with her?

A few days later Mom, Dad, and Emma made the long drive to the funeral. Emma tried to listen during the service. The pastor said, “Ephesians 2:6-7 tells us that God raises us up with Jesus—He gives us spiritual life as well as the promise of physical resurrection when He comes again—so that we will forever show ‘the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.’”

After the service Mom didn’t seem as sad while she visited with her sisters. Emma felt like something was missing, and her heart ached.

On their drive home, they stopped at a restaurant. Emma saw something strange on the menu. She asked, “What do they mean by ‘bottomless cup of coffee?’ That sounds messy.”

Dad laughed a little, and even Mom smiled. “That means they’ll keep filling your cup as long as you want more coffee,” Dad explained.

Mom added, “It’s like when Jesus fed the five thousand. He fed people until they were full. Then He gave even more. There’s no end to how much He gives us and does for us.”

Dad said, “It’s that way for your grandma now. God will spend all eternity showing kindness to her in heaven.”

“But what about us, Dad? I don’t feel full. I feel kind of empty.”

“We lost a great treasure in Grandma, and that can make us feel poor instead of rich. But God will never run out of mercy and kindness. He’s rich in both of those—and generous.”

Mom nodded. “God gave us the greatest treasure of all when He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save us so we could be with Him now and forever. Jesus promises to be with us when we feel sad and give us comfort and peace.”

Emma smiled. “It’s like a bottomless cup of His love.”

–Laura Roesler

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Matthew 19:26; Luke 6:45; James 3:7-10

"Mom,” said Noah, “Rexy had an accident on the welcome mat again.”

Mom made her way to the front door and rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know what to do with that dog. He chews up everything in the house. He barks at the garbage truck. He digs under the fence. He’s out of control. I don’t think anyone can tame that tiny Chihuahua. Would one of you boys please take Rexy for a walk?”

“It’s Noah’s turn.” Micah tossed the leash to his brother.

“My turn? I just gave him a bath last night!”

“That wasn’t a bath. You just sprayed some of Dad’s cologne on him!”

“Well, you should use some of that cologne because you smell worse than the dog!”

Mom sighed. “Don’t you boys ever get tired of arguing? I think Rexy acts so crazy because he’s watching how you two act.”

“Oh, come on, Mom. We don’t bark at the mailman,” Noah said.

“Yeah,” said Micah, “and it’s not like we punch each other or anything.”

“You punch each other with words. The way you talk to each other is just as out of control as Rexy. The Bible says people are able to tame all kinds of animals, but no one can tame the tongue.”

“So if the Bible is saying we have a better chance of taming Rexy than controlling what we say, why even try?” asked Noah.

“Because taming our tongues is important,” said Mom. “They may be small things, but they can cause huge destruction.”

Micah laughed. “That sounds a lot like Rexy!”

“The Bible also says that the words we speak come from our hearts,” Mom continued. “If we need to change our words, it means our hearts need to change. And we can’t change them ourselves.”

Noah thought about that. “You mean Jesus has to help us, right?”

“Right,” said Mom. “Only He can change your heart and help you love others the way He does. Taming the tongue is only possible with Him.” Mom walked over to the puddle on the welcome mat and sighed. “At this point, I think God’s the only one who can change Rexy as well.”

Micah smiled. “Well, the Bible does say that with God, all things are pawsible!”

–Jared Hottenstein

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Psalm 89:8, 11-13

Journey and Elise ran to the garage where their dad was working. “Mom says we’re going to have a picnic at the park!” said Journey. “Can we go soon?”

“We want to have time to play on the swings before we eat!” added Elise.

“Okay,” said Dad. “But before we go, I need to wash the car.”

“Why bother?” asked Elise. “It’s old.”

“You’re right. It is old,” Dad replied. “But it’s the only car we have—and God calls us to take care of everything we’ve been given. You can help. Then it will get done quicker.”

The girls reluctantly got busy. Journey mixed soap into a bucket of water while Elise got out sponges and Dad pulled out the hose. They washed and polished the car until it shone brightly. “There!” Dad said. “It looks almost as good as new.”

Soon they were on their way. At the park, Dad pushed Journey and Elise on the swings, and the girls also had fun on the slides and other playground equipment. Then Mom called for them to come and eat.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Mom said as they ate. “The trees and sky and flowers are so pretty.”

When they had finished eating, Journey and Elise carried the trash to a garbage can. “Thanks, girls,” Dad said when they got back. “Though I see some of the stuff fell on the ground when you were walking over and you left it. That’s no way to treat this old planet! Go back and pick it up.”

“Old planet?” asked Journey.

Dad nodded. “Just like our old car, this old planet is the only one we have to live on, and God wants us to take good care of it. This may be an old planet, but it’s also a wonderful, amazing, beautiful planet—and Jesus promises to make it new again one day when He comes back to get rid of sin forever and restore all creation to the way He intended it to be. Until then, we need to be good stewards and take care of the planet He created for us.”

“Okay, Dad,” Elise said, and the girls hurried back to pick up their trash.

–Daryl B. Knauer

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Today's Key Verse

Today's Key Thought

Read: Galatians 5:22-26

"Just do it,” coaxed Henry. “She’ll never know it was you.” Henry was trying to get his classmate Niam to put a whoopee cushion on their teacher’s chair. “Come on, it will be hilarious!”

“Okay,” said Niam. But when Mrs. Mills sat down and her face turned red, it didn’t seem so funny after all.

Later that day, Henry talked some classmates into putting petroleum jelly on all the door knobs in the classroom. But when Mrs. Mills couldn’t open the door for recess, she frowned and announced they would be staying inside.

At the end of the day, Henry was instructed to go to the principal’s office instead of the bus line. When he arrived, both of his parents were there. They didn’t look happy.

No one spoke on the drive home. When they pulled into the driveway, Dad turned off the engine and told Henry to go get a can of white paint. Henry didn’t know what Dad was up to, but he did as he was told.

“Let’s open this up and see how much we have,” said Dad. They pried off the rusty lid and peered inside. It looked okay. “We have to stir it,” said Dad. “It’s been sitting a while.”

As Henry stirred vigorously, chunks of old, rubbery paint and rust began dotting the surface. The harder he stirred, the worse it got. “All this stirring is making it worse!” Henry exclaimed.

“When you stir old paint, it loosens all the impurities in the can,” Dad explained. “Kind of like how you’ve been stirring things up at school.”

Henry stopped stirring the paint and sighed. “I was just trying to have some fun.”

“Yes, but at the expense of others. When you ask your classmates to do things that embarrass or hurt others, you’re encouraging them to sin. The Bible tells us to stir up love and good works, but you can’t do that by only thinking of yourself—just like you can’t stir up good paint from this old can. You need to depend on Jesus to help you stir up love and encourage others to do good things instead.”

“I guess you’re right.” Henry took the stirring stick out of the can. “I’ll be more careful about what I stir up.”

–Laura Kuehn

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