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

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A Saving Miracle Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:1-7; 1 John 4:12-13

“Time for dinner!” At the sound of Dad’s voice, Paisley and Bridger paused the level in their video game and hurried to the kitchen.

“What were you guys playing?” Dad asked as he set a bowl of veggies on the table.

“It’s an adventure game!” Bridger said. “We win coins by going on quests and completing challenges, and we meet all kinds of interesting characters. We even get to learn sword fighting and protect the realm from darkness!”

Paisley poured glasses of water. “Is Mom eating with us?”

“Yes, I am!” Mom entered the room. “Thanks for cooking dinner, I appreciate it.”

When they sat down to eat, Paisley took a long sip of water and sighed. “My life is boring in reality. I wish the things in that video game were real.”

“Or even things in the Bible, like the amazing miracles Jesus did,” Bridger said. “I wish those things still happened now.”

“Now hold on,” Mom countered. “Do you really think God doesn’t do amazing miracles today?” Paisley and Bridger looked at each other and shrugged. “Did you know that every person who believes in Jesus has been raised from the dead?” asked Mom.

“You mean we will be raised from the dead,” Bridger corrected.

“We will, but we’ve already been raised too,” Dad said. “The moment you trusted Jesus as your Savior, He brought you from death to life. Right then and there.”

“But that makes no sense,” Bridger said.

“The Bible says every single person is dead in our sin,” Mom explained. “That means our souls are dead. But the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the grave so that we could also be raised to life. That’s what salvation means. When we believe, we are given new life–God’s Spirit of life lives inside us. Our souls are raised from the dead, and one day our bodies will be too.”

“That is a miracle!” Paisley exclaimed.

“And,” Dad said, “God did all that because He loves us and wants us to be a part of His story, which is the most exciting story. Like your video game, there are challenges and lessons to be learned, but in the end, God will defeat darkness and all of evil forever!”

Bridger grinned. “And that’s way cooler than our game because it’s real!”

–Zoe Brickner

How About You?
Have you ever wondered if God still does miracles today? God has done spectacular miracles all throughout history, and many of them are recorded in the Bible. The most important miracle of all was when God raised Jesus from the dead so that we could have life! We get to experience this miracle for ourselves when we trust Jesus as our Savior. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)

Today’s Key Verse:
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. (NKJV) (Galatians 2:20)

Today’s Key Thought:
Salvation is a miracle

The School Project Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Psalm 33:6-9; Romans 6:23; 2 Peter 3:11-13

Michael put the last touch of paint on his school project, set the brush down, and stood back to admire it. It had taken weeks of hard work, but he had put together a model farm that he was proud of.

It had everything from a cornfield to pigs, cows, and chickens. The farmhouse looked good too, and Michael was excited to show it to his class.

“Wow, you did great,” his dad said when he came to inspect it that evening. Dad bent to take a closer look. “I love all the details.”

Michael beamed. “Thanks.” He explained various parts of the farm and pointed to the things he liked best about it.

Dad smiled as he straightened up. “You should be proud of your work.”

“I am,” Michael said.

“You love it?” Dad asked.

Michael nodded enthusiastically. “I put so much work into it.”

“You know, this reminds me of something,” Dad said.

“What?” Michael asked. His dad was always making lessons out of things.

Dad put a hand on his shoulder. “It reminds me of God’s creation and His love for it–for us. Think about how He so carefully made the earth and everything in it. It’s sort of like how you put effort into the farm.”

“The earth is much bigger than my tiny farm,” Michael said.

“But it’s something you can relate to.” Dad pointed at the project. “Whenever you wonder if God really loves you, think about how much love and care went into making this. You wouldn’t want anything to destroy it, right?”

Michael’s eyes widened. “Of course not.”

“God doesn’t want anything to destroy His creation either–the earth or the people He created. But we brought sin into the world, and sin is destructive–the Bible says sin results in death. So God’s Son, Jesus, became one of us and died and rose again to save us from sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Him has eternal life, and one day Jesus will get rid of sin and death forever and make everything new again.” Dad smiled. “That’s how much He loves His creation.”

Michael looked at his project again. “It’s pretty cool to think about it like that.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Dad winked.

–Bethany Acker

How About You?
Do you realize how much God loves the world He made and everything in it–including you? Jesus gave His life to save you from sin and death. Doesn’t it feel good to know He loves you that much? He put a lot of care into creating everything He made, and He promises to make it new again one day so we can enjoy it with Him forever.

Today’s Key Verse:
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (NIV) (Psalm 145:9)

Today’s Key Thought:
God loves His creation

Wrong Conclusions Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Proverbs 17:27-28; 18:13

“Don’t quit yet!” Jill begged her friend, but Elsie sat down and began unlacing her skates, saying she was cold. “It’s not that cold!” said Jill. Elsie didn’t answer, and Jill went back out on the ice.

“Hey, Jill!” called Mila as she skated by. “My mom is driving some of us to the coffee shop down the street for hot chocolate. Do you and Elsie want to go?”

“I’ll check,” said Jill. She spun around and returned to where Elsie was sitting. “Let’s go with Mila to get some hot chocolate at the coffee shop–it will be nice and warm there!” But Elsie wasn’t interested. Jill sighed. I wish I had come skating with somebody else, she thought. She’s no fun at all today!

When Jill got home, her mother was stirring a mixture in a bowl. “Oh, yum!” said Jill. “Cheesecake!” She picked up a spoon her mother had been using and quickly took a lick. “Ew!” she said, making a face. “What is this? I thought it was cream cheese.”

Mom laughed. “It’s shortening. You jumped to a conclusion without learning the facts again.” Jill knew she often did that.

As Mom continued working, Jill told her about the problem with Elsie. “I think she’s just looking for attention,” said Jill.

“Are you sure you haven’t jumped to another wrong conclusion?” asked Mom. “Maybe something is bothering Elsie and she needs a patient, understanding friend to listen to her and see what’s wrong.”

Jill just shrugged. “If something’s wrong, why wouldn’t she just tell me?”

That evening, Mom came into Jill’s room. “Jill, I talked with Elsie’s mom a few minutes ago. Elsie’s dad left home yesterday.”

“He did?” said Jill. “Where did he go?”

“They don’t know. Elsie’s mom said he has a problem with alcohol and disappears occasionally. I thought you should know so you can pray for them and be there for Elsie.”

“Oh no,” said Jill. “I did jump to conclusions again! No wonder Elsie was quiet today. When I see her tomorrow, I’ll make sure she knows I’m her friend. And I’ll pray for her–and for her dad!”

“I will too,” said Mom. “And I’ll pray that Elsie will see the love of Jesus in the way you care for her as your friend.”

–Linda Weddle

How About You?
Do you care when a friend doesn’t seem happy? Are you understanding and patient when someone doesn’t seem interested in what’s going on? Instead of jumping to conclusions, be sensitive and show them that you care. Jesus always listens to us, cares for us, and sits with us in tough times. Trust Him to help you be that kind of friend too.

Today’s Key Verse:
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (NIV) (Proverbs 14:29)

Today’s Key Thought:
Be understanding of others

Heart and Sole Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:3-8

Tristan beamed as he picked up a shoe from the display table. “This is the kind I want, Mom! All the guys are getting shoes like this. The special soles reduce the pounding you get from the gym floor.” Tristan imagined what his friends would say if he showed up at practice wearing these shoes. He looked at his mother hopefully, but she was moving away.

“How about this one?” Mom held up a shoe similar to the one Tristan was holding.

Tristan made a face and shook his head. “Nobody buys that brand.”

Mom sighed in exasperation. “Tristan, I want to buy shoes you like, but I’m not going to pay a lot of money just so you can have a certain brand.”

“But I don’t want any other shoes!”

“Then you can get along with your old ones,” Mom said, and she hurried him out of the store.

“Who was at the door?” asked Mom later that night as she was cooking dinner.

“It was Joey,” Tristan said with a scowl. “He just came to show off his new skateboard. He just got one a few months ago, but he bought another one. He just got it to impress the guys.”

Mom looked surprised. “So we shouldn’t buy things just to impress others?”

Puzzled, Tristan shook his head. “Of course not.”

“But weren’t you wanting to do the same thing with those shoes today?” asked Mom. “Didn’t you want that brand just to impress other kids?”

Tristan looked at the floor. “Well…maybe.”

Mom sighed. “I understand what it’s like to want nice things, Tristan. But when we want to get things just to impress others, we need to remember where our worth comes from. People’s opinions of us can change from one day to the next–they’re fleeting, just like the things we own, which will eventually wear out or get lost or broken. But God’s opinion of us never changes. Our value comes from the love He showed us by sending Jesus to save us from sin.”

Mom put a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Instead of trying to impress people with what you have, let them know you by the way you treat them and show them God’s love. They should know you by your heart, not your shoes.”

–Cynthia Y. Powell

How About You?
Do you want name-brand clothing and other things everybody else seems to have? It’s good to dress your best and look nice, but that shouldn’t be your focus in your interactions with others. Popular items come and go, along with what people think of you for owning them, but the way you treat others will stay in their minds long after. Instead of showing off things you have, show others the love you have in Jesus.

Today’s Key Verse:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. (NIV) (Philippians 2:3 )

Today’s Key Thought:
Don’t dress to impress

Dangerous Bait Jan 19, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: James 4:4-8; 1 Peter 5:8-10

Braelyn dropped her fishline over the side of the boat and watched the bait sink into the water. “That worm squirming on my hook looks so gross! How could a fish possibly want to eat it?”

Dad chuckled. “It doesn’t look very appealing to us, but to a fish, it’s food.”

“I’d rather starve!” said Braelyn.

Dad smiled. “You might look at it differently if you were a fish.”

Braelyn’s brother Judson cast his line across the water. “The fish don’t notice the sharp hook hidden inside the yummy-looking worms. All they think about is how good the worm will taste. They don’t think about what might happen after they bite.”

“I guess not,” said Braelyn. “If they knew they’d get hooked, they wouldn’t bite, no matter how juicy the worm looked.”

“Maybe not, but they might,” said Dad. “Sometimes we can be like fish.”

Braelyn grimaced. “You won’t ever see me biting on a worm!”

Dad laughed. “No, not a worm. But what about some other kind of bait? I’m thinking of times when there’s something we really want to do, but we know it’s wrong. You could say that Satan baits a hook with things that tempt us to make bad decisions.”

“So it’s like Satan is fishing for us?” asked Judson.

“Something like that,” said Dad. “He likes to trick us by tempting us with things that look good. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall for his bait and end up making sinful choices that go against God and who He calls us to be as His children.”

A faint tug came from Braelyn’s line, and she gasped. She reeled in a small bluegill and held it up. “Do I have to let it go?”

Reaching for the fish’s mouth, Dad said, “Let’s give this fish a second chance.”

“Hey, that’s like what Jesus does for us!” Judson exclaimed.

“You’re right!” said Dad. “Jesus died on the cross and rose again to free us from the power of sin and Satan. That means we can resist Satan’s bait. And when we do sin, Jesus will always forgive us.”

“Next time I’m tempted to do something wrong, I’ll remember these fish,” said Braelyn. “And even if I get hooked, I know that Jesus will give me a second chance!”

–Chip Montgomery

How About You?
Can you think of a time when you got hooked by the bait of sin? Maybe you were tempted by something that seemed good at first but turned out to be a trap that got you to do something wrong. When you give in to temptation, remember that Jesus will always forgive you when you confess your sin to Him. Because He has freed you from sin, and it holds no power over you anymore. Trust Him to help you resist Satan’s bait.

Today’s Key Verse:
Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NLT) (James 4:7)

Today’s Key Thought:
Don’t take Satan’s bait

Just Say Thanks Jan 18, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Psalm 95:1-7; James 1:17

Stella trudged quietly home from the school bus stop. After three weeks of living with Grandma Ruth, Stella still hadn’t made any friends on her new bus. Grandma Ruth kept reminding her that it takes time to build friendships.

“I’m home, Grandma Ruth!” Stella called, opening the door to their apartment.

“I have something to show you, sweetie!”

Stella hung her backpack on a hook and hugged her grandmother. “What do you want me to see?” Stella asked.

“Come here!” Grandma Ruth steered Stella to the tiny room they had converted into a bedroom for her. On the bed, Stella glimpsed a surprise. Her most cherished doll, Claudette, lay propped against the pillows wearing a new outfit: purple corduroy overalls and a pink shirt. It complemented the doll’s chocolate-brown hair perfectly.

Stella gasped. “Oh, Grandma Ruth! My favorite colors!” She rushed to the bed and cradled Claudette in her arms.

Grandma Ruth sat next to Stella. “I’m glad you like it, honey–you outgrew those pants long ago. We’ll buy you some clothes that fit better. But those pants made a great outfit for Claudette! I whipped that up on my sewing machine today.”

“Thank you, Grandma Ruth.” Stella looked down, her smile fading.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?”

“You let me come live with you, and you sewed new clothes for my doll. I don’t have anything for you. All I can do is say thanks.”

Grandma Ruth put her arm around Stella. “That’s all you need to say. I love you, and I’m so happy you’re my granddaughter. You’re also God’s child, Stella. When you put your faith in Jesus as your Savior last summer, God forgave your sins and brought you into His family. And just like I’m happy to be your grandma, God is happy to be your Father.”

“He is?”

“Yes, sweetie. He blesses us because He wants to, and we don’t have to pay Him back for it. In fact, we could never pay God back for all He does for us.”

“So, I just say thanks to God?” Stella asked.

“That’s right! We can express our gratitude by thanking and praising Him for all He’s done for us.”

Stella grinned. “Then let’s say thanks to God right now!”

–Allison Wilson Lee

How About You?
What do you do when saying thank you for a wonderful gift doesn’t feel like enough? Maybe we think we must buy the giver a present to pay them back. But with God, we can trust that He shares His blessings with us because He wants to be good to His children. And the best we can say in response is simply, “Thank you!”

Today’s Key Verse:
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (NIV) (1 Chronicles 16:34 )

Today’s Key Thought:
God loves a grateful heart

Puzzled with Patience Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“That doesn’t go there, Jamar,” Aisha chided, taking the jigsaw puzzle piece out of her baby brother’s hand. “Put it here.” She showed Jamar how to use the piece to complete the orange fish. Instead of doing what Aisha told him, however, Jamar put the piece into his mouth. Drool dribbled down his chin.

“Stop that!” Aisha exclaimed. “You’ll ruin it.” She snatched back the puzzle piece and jammed it into place. She was beginning to regret agreeing to play with Jamar. Sometimes he could be a real pain.

“Be patient, Aisha,” Mom said. She was watching them from the door. “He’s only two, after all.”

“But this is taking forever,” Aisha moaned. “I’ll just do it myself.” She picked up two more of the wooden puzzle pieces and began putting the puzzle together alone.

Mom came into the room and sat down beside them. “Give him another chance, Aisha,” she urged.

Aisha didn’t see the point, but she handed a piece to her brother. “Put this piece over there, Jamar,” she said.

At first Jamar held the piece upside down, then backwards. But eventually, he turned it over and put it into place. Aisha clapped her hands excitedly. “Good job, Jamar!” Jamar beamed with pride.

Aisha forgot about being frustrated with her baby brother for a moment, and together they finished the puzzle. As soon as they were done, Jamar lost interest and toddled off to play blocks.

“You know,” Mom said, “watching you and Jamar reminds me of how I feel with God sometimes.”

Aisha frowned. “Really?”

“I feel impatient when things in my life don’t change as fast as I want them to,” Mom explained. “It can be hard to wait for His answers instead of trying to force my own way. But we can trust God with the end result.”

Mom turned the finished puzzle around. Aisha smiled down at the colorful picture of silly sea life. It was still a little soggy from being in Jamar’s mouth, but it looked much better than the jumbled mess of pieces it was before.

“Even though we’re not always patient, God is patient with us,” said Mom. “He is patiently working in our hearts to make us more like Jesus, and we can trust Him to fit all the pieces of our lives together.”

–Christa Hogan

How About You?
Do you have trouble being patient? Even adults have this problem sometimes. But patience is important in life and in our faith. God loves us, and He is always at work, even if we can’t see what He’s doing. He’s patient with us as we grow, and we can trust that the end result will be worth the wait.

Today’s Key Verse:
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. (NIV) (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Today’s Key Thought:
Practice patience

No Secret Friends Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Romans 1:14-17

Peter raced into the house after another day at his new school. “Mom! Guess what! I made some more friends today–Mateo and Rhett! They both live on the same block as us. Can they come over to play basketball?”

“Sure,” said Mom. “What about the boy you were talking to at the bus stop this morning? He lives nearby–maybe he’d want to come over too.”

“Oh, that’s Graham,” said Peter. “He’s also one of my friends, but some of the kids make fun of him, so a lot of the others avoid him too. It’s kind of sad.”

Mom nodded. “It’s a shame they’d miss out on a friend just because they’re concerned about what others think.” She started slicing some carrots. “By the way, don’t forget that our church program starts tonight. We’ll be having dinner a little early.”

“Um, maybe I should skip this week,” Peter said slowly. “Mateo and Rhett will be here, and I don’t want to send them home early and have to explain why.”

“Why not?” asked Mom. “Are you afraid they might laugh at you?” Peter shrugged and looked at the floor.

Mom sighed. “Okay,” she said, to Peter’s surprise–he wasn’t expecting her to say yes. “You can stay home, but then I don’t want to see you talking to Graham at the bus stop tomorrow morning. Just ignore him.”

Peter couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Mom, that’s so mean! Graham’s my friend! Why would I do that?”

“Well, isn’t Jesus your friend too? A friend who sacrificed His own life on the cross to save you. Yet you don’t want your new friends to know about Him because they might make fun of you.”

Peter was quiet. “I guess you’re right,” he said after a moment. “I want the kids at school to know I’m friends with Graham, and I want them to know I’m friends with Jesus too.”

A little later, Mateo and Rhett arrived. “Let’s get a game going, Peter,” said Rhett. “We can’t stay very long–we have church tonight.”

“Yeah,” said Mateo. “And our friend Graham is on his way over too. You’ll like him, he’s a lot of fun.”

Peter and Mom looked at each other and smiled.

–Cynthia Y. Powell

How About You?
Do your friends know that you’re a Christian? Or do you keep your friendship with Jesus a secret so they won’t laugh? No earthly friend could ever be as important as Jesus. He gave His life for you and will always be with you, no matter what you go through. Never be ashamed to let others know He’s your friend.

Today’s Key Verse:
I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. (NLT) (Romans 1:16 )

Today’s Key Thought:
Let others know Jesus is your friend

How May I Help You? Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 4:8-10

“Daniel, Daniel!” Daniel’s little brother and sister came zooming into the room. “Will you play store with us? Please?”

Daniel smiled. “Okay, sure.” Eli and Alessia often begged Daniel to play store with them, but Daniel didn’t mind. Their grandfather owned a hardware store, and the kids loved to visit and see people buy all sorts of interesting things. Customers asked a lot of questions, and Grandpa was always happy to help them.

Daniel followed his brother and sister to where they had a make-believe store set up. “Eli and I will be the customers,” Alessia said. She put a toy phone to her ear. “Ring, ring!”

Daniel picked up the other end. “Hello, how may I help you?” That was how Grandpa answered the phone.

As Daniel was helping Eli and Alessia choose things to buy, Dad came in. “Okay, kids, time to go to the nursing home. Families from church are taking turns visiting, and tonight’s our night.”

Daniel frowned. “Couldn’t just you and Mom go?”

Dad shook his head. “The people look forward to our visits, and they especially like seeing kids. It brightens their whole day.”

“Well, it doesn’t brighten my day,” said Daniel.

He expected Dad to scold him, but instead, Dad changed the subject. “Daniel, how does Grandpa answer the phone at the store?”

“He says, ‘How may I help you?'” Daniel replied.

Dad nodded. “Yes, and I’ve heard you answer the same way when you’re playing store with Eli and Alessia. It’s a good way to show that you’re willing and eager to help someone. Now, is there a way you could ask God that same question that’s used to answer the phone?”

“What do you mean?” asked Daniel.

“In the Bible we learn that God wants His followers to serve Him and others willingly,” Dad explained. “Jesus eagerly served everyone He encountered–He even sacrificed His own life to save us. And He’s given us the Holy Spirit to help us love others the way He does, which means we can serve others with a willing heart too.”

Daniel thought for a minute. “I guess you’re right,” he said. “If I asked God how I could help Him today, He’d want me to go to the nursing home.”

–Carolyn E. Yost

How About You?
What’s your attitude when you serve the Lord? When you’re asked to help out at home or visit someone who’s sick, do you do it willingly? Jesus loves us so much that He became the greatest servant of all by sacrificing Himself for us. When we serve God by helping others, we show other people His love. Take a moment and ask God in prayer, “How may I help you?”

Today’s Key Verse:
Serve [God] with a loyal heart and with a willing mind. (NKJV) (1 Chronicles 28:9)

Today’s Key Thought:
Serve God willingly

Hearing Problems Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Bible Reading: Mark 4:9-12; Romans 10:17

“We had a new girl in our class at church today,” Josephine said as she set the table for lunch. “Her name is Lauren, and she’s deaf. She reads lips.”

Mom nodded. “I met her mother. Their family moved here recently.” She set a plate of vegetables on the table. “Just last week I read an article that said several million people in our country are either totally deaf or can’t hear as well as they should.”

“Nolan doesn’t hear as well as he should.” Josephine smirked at her brother. “He only hears when he wants to. He hears just fine when somebody mentions dessert, but he doesn’t seem to hear when someone mentions chores that need to be done.”

Nolan smirked back. “You’re one to talk!”

“I guess we’re all guilty of that once in a while,” Dad said. “It’s called selective hearing–only hearing what you want to hear.” He started pouring water into the glasses on the table. “Sadly, some of us who have perfectly good hearing are deaf in another way–we’re spiritually deaf.”

“Spiritually deaf?” asked Josephine. “What does that mean?”

“It means failing to hear and understand what God has to say,” said Dad. “He invites everyone to trust in Jesus and be saved, but many people don’t seem to hear Him. In the Bible, God speaks of His love for us, the dangers of sin, and how we can have the gift of forgiveness and eternal life through His Son, Jesus. Many of us might hear these words with our ears but not understand them with our hearts. It’s as though we’re deaf to what He’s saying.”

“Even Christians have trouble listening to God’s words and obeying them,” said Mom. “Though we trust in Jesus, we sometimes don’t want to listen to what He has to say to us through prayer, reading the Bible, and meeting with other Christians. We seem to quit listening–especially if we’re afraid we’ll hear something from God that we don’t like.”

“I guess that would be like what Dad said we’re guilty of,” said Nolan. “Selective hearing.”

“That’s right,” said Dad. “Thankfully, God is patient with us when we don’t listen and gives each Christian the Holy Spirit to open our ears to His voice.”

–Phyllis I. Klomparens

How About You?
Are you spiritually deaf or hard of hearing? Are you ignoring what God says in the Bible about how you can be saved from sin by trusting in Jesus? If you do trust in Jesus, are you neglecting spiritual habits like prayer and going to church that help you listen to what He wants to say to you about your life? Trust God to help you hear Him better so you can listen, understand, and obey.

Today’s Key Verse:
I will hear what God the Lord will speak. (NKJV) (Psalm 85:8)

Today’s Key Thought:
Always listen to God

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