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

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A Curious Incident (Part 1) Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

As Ryder and Zach set plates and forks on the table for lunch, a dog started barking outside. “There goes Sarge again,” said Ryder. “He’s always barking.”

“This bark sounds different than usual,” said Mom. “Maybe one of you boys should go check it out.”

“Aw, Mom, we’re busy,” said Zach. “Besides, Sarge barks at everything—squirrels, people, cars. You name it, he barks at it.” Since Mom didn’t insist, no one checked to see why Sarge was barking.

When Zach and Ryder went out to ride their bikes later that afternoon, they stopped and stared at the empty garage. “Where are our bikes?” asked Zach.

“I don’t believe it!” cried Ryder. “They’re gone! Who would have the nerve to come into our garage in broad daylight and take our bikes right out from under our noses?”

“After all the work we did mowing lawns to buy those bikes,” said Zach. “Now this!”

The boys rushed into the house. “Our new bikes are gone! Someone stole them!” Everyone hurried out to see for themselves.

Dad returned to the house to call the police department and report the loss. When he came back outside, he stopped to pet Sarge. “Didn’t we hear Sarge barking a couple hours ago?” he asked. “He was trying to warn us, and we didn’t listen to him.”

That evening Dad read aloud from Psalm 19. “Warnings are important,” he said after he finished reading. “Today Mom warned you boys not to ignore Sarge’s barking, but you did. Sarge was warning us about the bikes getting stolen, but we didn’t listen. In this psalm, we see that God speaks through His Word not only to teach us about who He is and how much He loves us, but also to warn us about sin.”

“You mean how sin separates us from God, and only Jesus can free us from sin and give us eternal life?” asked Zach.

Dad nodded. “Yes, the Bible definitely warns us about sin in that way. But it also warns those who already trust in Jesus about the consequences of sin and how disobeying God can create huge messes in our lives. Let’s be sure to listen, knowing that Jesus will always forgive our wrongs and help us obey Him.”

–Evelyn J. Behrens

How about you? Do you take warnings seriously? God warns Christians about the dangers of sin in the Bible. Listen to Him and obey His commands. Is God warning you about something today? If you think He is, pray and ask God to help you know what action to take, and get advice from an adult you trust. God’s warnings are one of the ways He helps you and guides you through life.

Today's Key Verse: His teachings warn his servants, and good things come to those who obey them. (ERV) Psalm 19:11

Today's Key Thought: Pay attention to God’s warnings

The Tablet of Your Heart Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

Read: Proverbs 3:1-8

My stomach hurts, Mom,” said Kaylee, burying her head in her pillow. “Don’t make me go to school today.”

Mom put her hand on Kaylee’s forehead. “You felt okay at dinner last night—you ate half a pizza! Is something wrong?”

Kaylee glanced at her tablet lying on her bedside table. “Not really. It’s just—I posted something last night that I probably shouldn’t have. I just know Lucy’s going to be totally mad at me.”

“Oh, Kaylee,” said Mom. “Get dressed and let’s talk about it during breakfast.”

As Kaylee stirred her cereal, her tablet pinged with a new message. She didn’t reach to answer it.

“So, what’s the matter?” asked Mom, sipping her coffee.

Kaylee groaned. “I sent a message to Chris last night. About Lucy. I said she wants him to sit with her at the school play next week.”

“Does she?” asked Mom.

“No,” muttered Kaylee. “And the worst part is, Chris posted my message on his page, so now everyone thinks Lucy likes him. And it’s all my fault!”

Mom sighed and shook her head. “Why’d you do that, honey?”

“I don’t know,” said Kaylee. “It just seemed like a funny thing to say.”

“Kaylee, you know written words are just as hurtful as spoken words.”

Kaylee’s tablet pinged again. She looked at the message and sighed. “It’s Lucy,” she said. “What am I going to do?”

“What do you think you should do?”

Kaylee looked at Mom, fighting back tears. “Tell the truth?”

“That would be the loving thing to do.” Mom smiled. “In fact, the Bible even tells us to write love on tablets.”

“It does?” asked Kaylee, her eyes widening.

Mom nodded. “God tells us to write love on the tablets of our hearts. That means showing others His love through our words and actions. When we trusted in Jesus, He gave us the Holy Spirit so we could love others the way He does. We show others love by telling the truth and treating them with kindness—both in person and online.”

Kaylee looked at her tablet on the table. “I guess that means I need to write love on this tablet too.”

–Jennifer Dillard

How about you? Have you ever told a lie on the internet? Or wrote something mean about someone so others would think you were funny or cool? Words can spread quickly online, and they can hurt you and your relationships. Show love from your heart by sharing words that are true and kind—both in person and online.

Today's Key Verse: You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 3:3

Today's Key Thought: Be truthful and kind online

Someone to Trust Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

Read: Psalms 16:11; 37:3-7; Matthew 18:2-4

"Look, Daddy!” exclaimed four-year-old Beck as he peered out the airplane window. “Look! There’s snow down there!”

Beck’s older brother Micah laughed. “That’s not snow. Those are clouds. They just look like snow.”

Dad smiled and nodded. “They look solid, don’t they? Like you could walk right out on them.”

“Yes, but they wouldn’t hold you up!” Micah replied. “If you stepped out on one of those clouds, it would be a giant step down to earth.”

“Maybe the clouds are made of snow!” Beck said.

Micah shook his head. “No. Clouds are just water vapor,” he said in his best big brother tone. “I learned that in science class. They can’t hold anything up.”

“Ohhh,” murmured Beck. Then he had another question. “Why does the plane stay up in the air?”

“The plane is built just right for flying,” said Dad, “and the pilot goes to school to learn how to make it stay up.” Beck seemed satisfied with that explanation and turned back toward the window.

Micah watched his little brother for a moment. “You know what, Dad?” he asked quietly. “Beck believes everything we tell him.”

“That’s because he trusts us to tell him the truth,” said Dad. “It’s too bad, but as we grow older we find there are some people we can’t trust. Many people are trustworthy, but even people we trust may sometimes disappoint us.”

Micah looked out at the clouds moving past the plane. “Last week Pastor Carter said there was someone who would never fail us. He was talking about God.”

Dad nodded. “God has proven Himself to be trustworthy by keeping every promise He has ever made.”

“Like how He promised to send a Savior, and He sent Jesus to die for our sins,” Micah added.

“Exactly,” Dad said. “He’s as solid as a rock and completely trustworthy. Notice how I’m the first person Beck asks when he has a question. Since God is our Father, He wants us to seek His wisdom before anything else.”

“Daddy! What’s that?” Beck pointed at something else outside the window, and Dad and Micah exchanged smiles.

–Ruth Andrews

How about you? Who are some trustworthy people in your life? People you go to with questions and trust to tell you the truth? People like that are a blessing from God, but even those we trust can sometimes disappoint us. But God is always trustworthy. He always tells us the truth and keeps His promises. His truth and promises are in the Bible, and that’s where we can go to seek His wisdom and guidance. Trust Him to help you and guide you.

Today's Key Verse: O LORD my God, in You I put my trust. (NKJV) Psalm 7:1

Today's Key Thought: God is trustworthy

A Friend of Sinners Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

Read: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 5:6-8

Max strung out a long piece of cheese and took a bite of his pepperoni pizza. He loved this restaurant—it had tons of fun games. This would’ve been the best day ever except for the mean kid.

“Mom, see that tall kid over there with red hair? When I was shooting hoops, he shoved me and stole my tickets out of the game.”

His mother frowned. “That wasn’t very nice.”

“I know.” Max picked at his food. “I feel like punching him in the face.”

“Now, Max, you know that’s not how we treat people,” said Mom. “The Bible tells us to love our enemies.”

“But he’s mean!” said Max.

“Do you realize that people were mean to Jesus too?” asked Mom. “The Bible says we were all enemies of God at one time, but Jesus willingly suffered and died for our sins so we could be forgiven and become God’s friends.”

Max took a bite of his pizza and glanced at the boy. “I think I’m gonna play some games with the rest of my tokens.”

“Okay, but you don’t have much time. We need to leave in ten minutes to pick up Grandma from the airport.”

Max headed for the race car game where he ran into a friend from school. “Hey, Jacob. What are you doing here?”

“I’m gonna play this racing game.” Jacob jumped in the seat and slid a token into the slot. “I bet I can beat you.”

“No way.” Max smiled as he took a seat behind the wheel.

After a couple rounds with Jacob, Mom called to him. “Max, it’s time to go!”

He looked down at the coins in his hand. He still had five left. For a moment he considered giving them to

Jacob. Then he remembered what his mother had said.

“I gotta go,” he told Jacob. He jogged over to the guitar game where the red-haired boy stood in front of the screen.

“Here.” Max held out his coins. “These are for you.”

The boy’s mouth dropped open as Max handed over the tokens. “Why would you give me these?” he asked.

Max shrugged. “I thought you could use them.” Then he smiled and went to find his mom.

–Annika Klanderud

How about you? Is it hard for you to be kind to mean people? If somebody teases you, do you hope they get in trouble? People often describe Jesus as kind, merciful, and forgiving. But the amazing thing is, He’s kind to bullies, cheaters, and people who break all the rules. While dying on the cross, He even asked His Father to forgive His murderers. Now that’s an exceptional love—and He wants you to show that love to others.

Today's Key Verse: Love your enemies! Do good to them…for [God] is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. (NLT) Luke 6:35

Today's Key Thought: Love others like Jesus

Here, There, and Everywhere Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Read: Psalms 33:13-15; 139:7-12

Graham held very still when his mom came outside, hoping she wouldn’t see him. He loved to hide in the old apple tree. When he peeked through the leaves and branches, he could see Mom in the yard below. He could see Tabby, Mrs. Underwood’s cat, creeping through the grass next door. He could see Brie playing with her friend across the street. But no one on the ground could see him.

“Graham! Brie!” Mom called. “Lunch will be ready soon—you have about five minutes left to play.” She went back into the house.

Graham didn’t feel like coming down just yet. He lay on a branch, stretched out flat on his stomach. He watched a blue jay land by the fence. He watched Mrs. Underwood come out onto her back porch and call Tabby. He watched a red pickup truck drive down the street.

When Mom came out a little later, Graham was still in the tree. “Kids!” Mom called. “Lunch is ready! Time to come in!” Graham swung down and dropped to the ground as Brie came running home.

“Surprise, Mom!” Graham said as he entered the kitchen. “I saw you when you came outside, but you couldn’t see me! I saw you too, Brie. I could see everybody!” He grinned. “Kind of like how God watches us from up in heaven.”

“Nah,” said Brie. “God watches everybody in the whole wide world, all at once, all the time!” She grinned at her brother. “He was watching you while you were hiding and watching us.”

“But that’s not all,” said Mom. “Unlike you in the tree, God doesn’t hide from us, and He’s never far away. He doesn’t watch from a distance but is right here in this room! Because we trust Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit is always with us, caring for us and watching over us.”

“I guess we can say God is here, there, and everywhere,” Brie said. “He always knows where we are and what we’re doing. He knows everything about us.”

“Then He must know I’m hungry!” Graham said as he sat down at the table. “What’s for lunch?”

–Katherine E. Swarts

How about you? Do you like to hide from people? If you’re way up high, you might be able to see a lot from far away, but that’s nothing compared to what God sees. He sees the whole world and knows everything about each one of us. He even knows what you’re thinking and feeling! He watches over you every minute of every day and is always right beside you. Thank Him for caring for you, and remember He’s always with you.

Today's Key Verse: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJV) Proverbs 15:3

Today's Key Thought: God sees everything

Silly Goose Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Read: Psalm 133

"You chose last time!” yelled Jill.

“I did not!” said Kelsey. “You did!”

“I guess I remember better than you.” Jill stomped over to the back porch and sat down. She and Kelsey 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?”

“Kelsey is so bossy,” said Jill. “She never wants to do what I want to do.” She frowned as she glanced at Kelsey, 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 turns. So he tried to make them do things his way, and now all the other geese are honking at him.” He grinned at his sister. “Silly goose.”

They watched as the long line of geese separated into four lines, then merged into two. The honking became a bit quieter, and finally the two lines formed into one long V.

“I wonder which one got them to stop honking and work together peacefully,” said Theo. “It takes a real leader to get others to work well together. And it’s not about always doing things your way, but putting others before yourself. That’s the kind of leader Jesus was. Even though He’s King over everything, He became a servant and died for our sins—because that’s the only way we could have peace with God.”

Jill looked over to where Kelsey was swinging. That’s what I want to be—a leader, she thought. Not a silly goose.

She jumped up and walked over to the swing set. “Okay, Kelsey,” she said. “You can decide this time.” She smiled at her cousin. “Let’s stop honking at each other.”

–Lois A. Witmer

How about you? Do you always want others to do things your way? Do you try to take charge by fighting and forcing everybody else to do what you want? That’s not the kind of leader Jesus was. He put others ahead of Himself by sacrificing His life to bring us peace, and He wants us to live in peace with each other. Help others live in peace by doing what’s best for everyone, not just yourself. That’s the mark of a true leader.

Today's Key Verse: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (NIV) Ephesians 4:3

Today's Key Thought: Learn to get along with others

Community Cleanup Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Read: Genesis 1:28-31; Colossians 1:15-20

Gabe turned his nose away from the fast-food scraps and held them at arm’s length. “I think my nose is more sensitive than most. This is disgusting.” The sun beat down, and a soft breeze sent wafts of rotten smells up his nostrils.

His friend Cassi just shook her head and urged him on. Their church had partnered with the city to orchestrate a park cleanup across the street from their chapel. It’s about time, Gabe had thought. He was tired of stepping over litter at the playground.

Volunteers spread across the grassy opening armed with gloves and rolls of trash bags; only the lucky ones got plastic reach extenders to jab at the waste. After a couple hours of picking up trash, Gabe looked around at the huge park and wondered if it even made a difference.

“Good work, guys!” Gabe and Cassi turned to see the pastor’s eldest son, Brent, wheeling a wagon over their way. “Want a bottle of water?” he asked.

They nodded vigorously and Brent handed them each a bottle. Gabe guzzled his down in seconds, flattened the bottle, and tossed it into the recycling bag. He groaned. “It smells out here.”

“Do you know why we’re doing this park cleanup?” Brent asked them.

Gabe had no idea. With a shrug, Cassie said, “To do something nice for the community, I guess.”

“Yes, and we’re doing it because God gave us this earth as a gift,” Brent explained. “God’s given us everything out of love for us—including His own Son to save us so we can have a relationship with Him. The earth is a blessing from God; He provides food, water, shelter, clothing, and medicines through its resources. The things of this earth are meant to be a blessing for everyone, so one way we can show others the love of Jesus, who is King over all God’s creation, is by making sure the earth is taken care of.”

Cassi nudged Gabe’s shoulder and smiled. “Like making sure the playground is clean for everyone to use.”

Gabe looked over the playground and imagined how nice it would be for the community if it were all cleaned up. “I guess it would be a good way to love our neighbors.”

–Zoe Brickner

How about you? Do you enjoy being outside in God’s beautiful creation? What are some things you have benefited from that come from nature? God made this world for us as an overflow of His endless love—love so great that He gave us His Son, Jesus, who reigns over the earth. One way we can thank God for His gifts and love our neighbors at the same time is by caring for the earth so everyone can enjoy it.

Today's Key Verse: The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (NIV) Psalm 24:1

Today's Key Thought: Take care of the earth

Scary Storms Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Read: Psalm 23:1-6

Madison’s dog nuzzled up against her hand, whining anxiously. Madison closed her history textbook and looked down. “What’s wrong, Buddy?” she asked, even though she knew Buddy couldn’t answer. Then she heard thunder booming in the distance.

Buddy perked up his ears, then whined again. Madison looked out the window at the dark clouds piling high as rain began hitting the glass. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Madison bent down to stroke Buddy’s head. “It’s okay,” she said. “It’s just a storm. You’re safe inside.”

Buddy whined some more. Madison sighed. She needed to study for her big test tomorrow. Her heart beat faster just thinking about it. “Come on, Buddy, you’re fine.” Madison picked up her book again, feeling sick to her stomach. She always had trouble remembering all the dates and places, then she’d panic, which made it even harder to think. She hoped she wouldn’t forget everything she studied.

Mom walked into the room. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Madison sighed again. “Buddy’s scared of the storm, but I need to finish my homework.” Mom nodded. “Buddy’s always been scared of storms.” She thought for a minute. “What are some things that scare you, Madison?”

Madison looked up, surprised. “I’m scared of heights. Remember when Dad wanted me to go down that big water slide, but I couldn’t even make it up the stairs?” She paused. “And sometimes I’m scared to take tests. I worry I won’t remember everything and will get a bad grade.”

“So who do you go to for help?” asked Mom.

“Well, sometimes you and Dad. You help me study.”

“And that’s good. But there’s someone else you can also go to.” Mom reached down and patted Buddy’s head. “Isn’t it interesting that Buddy knows to come to you for comfort? That’s how Jesus wants us to think about Him. He wants to be our first option for peace and comfort. When we come to Him with our fears, He comforts us and reminds us that He’s in control and will always love us and be with us no matter what happens.”

“So, since I’m worried about my test, I should pray about it?” Madison asked.

Mom nodded. “I think that’s a great idea.”

–Abigail Singrey

How about you? What scares you? Is it spiders, the dark, or meeting new kids at church or school? Maybe you freeze up with fear, or maybe you get a funny feeling in your stomach. Whatever worries you have, you can bring them to Jesus. He won’t think they’re silly. When we pray to God about whatever is troubling us, He will calm our worries and let us know He’s with us.

Today's Key Verse: Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you. (NLV) 1 Peter 5:7

Today's Key Thought: Pray about your problems

Finished Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

Read: John 19:28-30

Evan breathed deeply through his nose as he walked into the kitchen. “Yum!” he said, walking over to where his older sister was working. “Lemon pie!”

“Oh no, you don’t!” said Zoe, shooing him away with her spatula. “This is nowhere near finished.”

“Okay, but I’ll be waiting for it,” Evan said, then headed upstairs to do homework. When he came back later, Zoe had poured the filling into the pie shell. “Can I have some pie now?” he asked.

Zoe shook her head. “It’s still not finished,” she told him. “It’s lemon meringue pie, and it doesn’t have any meringue on it yet.”

Evan checked back one more time before dinner. “It’s finished now,” Zoe told him, “but you can’t have any yet. I baked it for dessert tonight.”

After dinner, Zoe finally brought the pie to the table. Evan scooped up and swallowed every bit on his plate. “Now the pie’s really finished,” he said, patting his stomach. “It’s all gone.”

For devotions that night, Dad read from the Gospel of John. “‘It is finished.’ Those were the last words Jesus said on the cross,” Dad said, closing his Bible. “Sounds a lot like some of the words being said in the kitchen this afternoon. A couple of times I overheard Zoe tell Evan that the lemon pie wasn’t finished yet. Finally, she said it was finished, but even then it didn’t do Evan any good. Why not?”

“Because I didn’t eat any of it,” replied Evan. “Her fault, not mine!”

“I don’t doubt it,” Dad said with a smile. “Well, Jesus came to earth to take the punishment for our sin. On the cross, He finally said, ‘It is finished.’ His work was done. But a lot of people are missing the full benefit of His finished work. Why?”

“Because they haven’t trusted Him as their Savior,” Zoe said after a moment.

“Right,” said Dad. “To enjoy the finished pie, we had to take it for ourselves and eat it. And to enjoy the benefit of Jesus’s finished work—the joy and peace of having a relationship with God that lasts for eternity—we have to receive it for ourselves. We have to believe in Jesus and trust Him to save us to become a child of God.”

–Hazel W. Marett

How about you? Have you received the benefit of what Jesus did for you on the cross? Are you trusting Him to save you from sin and give you eternal life? He finished the work of purchasing your salvation, and He offers it to you right now. Receive it for yourself by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to https://new.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)

Today's Key Verse: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (NIV) John 1:12

Today's Key Thought: Accept Jesus's finished work

Grandpa's Sheep Apr 19, 2025

Show notes

Read: Read: John 10:2-5, 14

"Ah, look!” Amelia said as her mother parked the car at Grandpa’s farm. “I see Grandpa’s new sheep! Let’s go pet them.” The children climbed out of the car and raced toward the sheep, but the animals darted to the far corner of the pen.

“Oops! We scared them,” said Josiah. “Let’s try again. Let’s pull some grass for them, and this time let’s walk, not run.”

Amelia agreed, and they each pulled a handful of grass and slowly carried it toward the corner where the sheep huddled. But as they approached, the flock spun around and dashed away. Amelia dropped her grass. “I give up.”

“Me too,” said Josiah, throwing his grass on the ground.

A moment later, the children saw their grandfather coming. They ran to give him a hug. “Grandpa, why do you have those baby bottles?” Amelia asked.

“Two of my lambs need these,” replied Grandpa. “I feed them because their mother died.”

“I wish I could feed one of them,” said Amelia, “but your sheep don’t like us. They run away.”

Grandpa smiled. “Watch,” he said as he led the children to a small pen beside the barn. They saw that it held two little lambs. “Here, Fluffy. Here, Snowball,” Grandpa called as he opened the pen. The lambs scampered out and followed him as he crisscrossed the lawn.

Josiah laughed. “They’re playing follow the leader!”

Grandpa handed each of the kids a bottle. “Here,” he said. “You can hold these for them.”

“Cool!” said Amelia, offering her bottle to one of the lambs. She giggled in delight as the lamb eagerly took it. “This one dances while he eats!” Amelia looked at Grandpa. “But why wouldn’t your other sheep eat the grass we pulled for them?”

“Sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow him. They tend to run away from strangers,” Grandpa explained. “It reminds me that we are like sheep. We follow our Shepherd—Jesus—by obeying Him and trusting Him to guide us and take care of us. We don’t let anything or anyone lead us away from Him because we’ve heard His voice and know that He is the Good Shepherd who calls us to eternal life with Him.”

–Margaret M. Primrose

How about you? Are you following Jesus, the Good Shepherd? You may not have wool and four legs, but the Bible often refers to Christians as sheep who hear and follow Jesus’s voice. He’s the one who loves us so much that He gave His life to save us and promises to guide us, care for us, and supply our needs. If you trust in Jesus, you are following Him.

Today's Key Verse: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (NKJV) John 10:27

Today's Key Thought: Follow your Shepard

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