** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional <August 07, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

The Wrong Finger (Monday)

Read: John 3:1-7, 16 

 

"Of course I'm a Christian!" Easton told his friend Micah. "I go to church with my mom and dad all the time. Dad's on the church board, and Mom teaches Sunday school." Easton paused, then added, "During the church service last Sunday, they both gave testimonies about how they were saved."

 

"So what?" said Micah. "That doesn't make you a Christian."

"Does too!" Easton insisted.

 

A little later, Micah left to go home, and Easton came into the house. "Micah and I were tightening some screws on our bikes, and my hand slipped," Easton told his mom. "My finger got cut!" He held out his hand to show her. "It still hurts."

 

"Well, come on in," said Mom as she inspected Easton's finger. "Let's go fix it."

 

Mom got a small strip bandage from the medicine cabinet. She looked at it thoughtfully as she tore it open. Then she very carefully put it on her own finger. "There," she said. "Does that bandage make you feel better?"

 

Easton stared at his mom. Then he laughed. "Mom! It's my finger that's hurt. I'm the one who needs the bandage, not you."

 

"Oh?" Mom looked at him. "You mean the bandage on my finger doesn't help yours?" "Of course not!" said Easton.

 

"Well," replied Mom, "a little while ago I heard you talking with Micah through the open window in the kitchen. You said that because Dad and I are Christians, you are too, right?" Easton nodded uncertainly. "Your dad and I had all our wrongs forgiven by God," Mom said. "We trusted Jesus as our Savior, and He saved us from sin and gave us eternal life with Him! If that makes you a Christian too, then I think this bandage on my finger should also take care of your cut."

 

Easton stared thoughtfully at his mother. "I guess you're right," he said. "I need my own bandage--and I need to trust Jesus for myself, don't I?"

 

"Yes, you do," Mom replied as she took out another bandage to put on Easton's finger. "Want to talk about it some more?" Easton looked at his cut. "Yeah. I'd like that." -Hazel W. Marett

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you come from a Christian home? Do your parents, grandparents, or other relatives know Jesus as their Savior? If you answered yes, that’s great. But here’s the real question—have you placed your faith in Jesus? If not, you are not a Christian. In the Bible, even Nicodemus, a religious ruler, had to be “born again,” meaning he had to trust Jesus to take away his sin. You do too. Trust Jesus today so you can be a Christian too. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: John 3:3 (KJV)

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (NLT)

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < August 02, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

No Taking Back (Tuesday)

Read: Titus 2:7-8, 11-14

 

"Eden makes me so mad!" Melanie fumed as she walked home from Eden's house. The two friends had argued, and now Melanie thought of more things she wished she had said to Eden--and they weren't nice. Well, I'm not going back there. I'll text her and tell her what I think of her, she thought. All the way home, Melanie planned what she'd say.

 

"That'll fix her," Melanie muttered after sending an angry note to her friend. But as she headed for the kitchen, she felt bad. Eden was her best friend.

 

Mom was making dinner when Melanie sat down on a stool at the kitchen counter. Mom glanced at her. "Problems?" she asked. "You don't look happy."

 

"I…I…" Melanie began, and the story tumbled out. "I shouldn't have sent that message," she said. "Maybe she didn't see it yet. How can I get her to not read it?" Mom shook her head. "Sorry, honey, but I'm afraid you can't."

 

"Maybe I could call her and ask her to delete it without reading it," Melanie suggested.

 

"Do you really think that would work?" Mom asked. Melanie sighed and shook her head. "Once we send something, we can't take it back," said Mom.

"But, Mom!" cried Melanie. "What can I do?"

 

"Calling her is a good idea, but call to apologize and tell her you're sorry."

Melanie blew her nose. "Okay," she said. "I will."

 

"And let this be a reminder the next time you're tempted to say--or text--something hurtful to someone," said Mom. "Remember that, just like you couldn't take back that message, we can't take back any of the words we say once we say them. That's why the Bible tells us to choose our words carefully--and also our thoughts and actions. We can't live any part of our lives over."

 

"So we have to be careful about what we say and do from the start, right?" Melanie said thoughtfully. "Much more careful than I was today. I'll remember that."

 

"Good," said Mom. "You should also remember that we can ask Jesus to forgive us and help us change our ways when we're not as careful as we should be and fail to show others His love. And we can ask those we hurt to forgive us too."

-Sherry L. Kuyt

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have you said or done things you wish you hadn’t? You can’t take back those words or actions, but you can tell people you’re sorry and ask their forgiveness. You can ask Jesus to forgive you too. He will, and He’ll help you change your ways so others can see His grace and love in your life. Consider each day a gift from God, and trust Him to help you live it carefully.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Titus 2:12 (KJV)

[God’s grace] teaches us…to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (NIV)

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < August 03, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Light Needed (Part 1) (Wednesday)

Read: Psalm 119:105, 127-130 

 

"It's so dark out," said Cora as she and her brother Josh stumbled along the path through the woods. They had been visiting some friends who were camping just a short distance from their own campsite.

 

"At least we don't have far to go," said Josh. "We're almost--" His words cut off as he caught his toe on a tree root and fell. "Ow!" he yelled.

 

Cora reached down to help him up. "Are you hurt?"

 

"Not much," Josh replied. "But I think I skinned my knee. It hurts." He began to brush himself off. "We'd better not go quite so fast." Cora agreed, and the two of them moved slowly and carefully along until they reached the campsite where their parents were waiting for them.

 

"We could hear you two coming," said Mom. "We heard a yell. Are you okay?"

 

"Josh fell," said Cora, "but he's not hurt much. It was so dark, we couldn't see when there was stuff in our way."

 

"You had your pocket flashlight with you," said Dad. "Why didn't you use it?"

 

"My flashlight!" Josh reached into his pocket and pulled it out. "I forgot I had it." Everyone laughed.

"Can I have a bandage for my knee?" Josh asked.

 

"Sure," said Mom. "I'll get one for you."

 

"You kids remind me of myself," Dad said while Mom cleaned and bandaged Josh's knee. "I have a light for my path, but sometimes I forget to use it or just don't bother."

 

"Really?" asked Cora. "Are you talking about the flashlight on your phone?"

 

Dad shook his head. "I'm talking about my Bible," he said. "God says His Word is a light to our paths. It tells us about Jesus, the light of the world who died and rose again to save us from sin. The Bible helps us get to know Him better and encourages us in our walk with Him. But it doesn't do us any good if we don't use it." Dad held up his phone. "Gather ‘round now," he said. "It's time for our family devotions--and since it's so dark, I'll read the Bible on this."

Josh grinned. "I guess that means you have two lights on your phone!"

-Hazel W. Marett

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you read your Bible regularly? Do you listen when it’s being taught at church? It contains the truth and promises God wants to share with you. It tells the story of Jesus, who loves you and died for your sins. It offers encouragement and comfort in hard times and guidance in how to live your life. But unless you use it, it can’t help you. Don’t stumble along in the dark. Use your Bible and follow the light it gives.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Psalm 119:130 (KJV)

The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. (NLT)

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < August 04, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Light Needed (Part 2) (Thursday)

Read: Psalm 119:4-8 

 

"Can you sleep at our campsite tonight?" Josh asked his friend Ben after spending the evening with Ben's family. "My mom says it's okay with her."

 

"Can I, Mom? Then I won't wake you when I get up early to go fishing."

 

Ben's mom nodded. "Okay, but it's already dark, so take your sleeping bag and get going."

 

As they started out, Josh snapped on his flashlight. "Last night I left this thing in my pocket all the way home. I'm not gonna make the same mistake twice!"

 

When they came to a narrow stretch of the path, Josh led the way and Ben followed behind him. "Can you see okay, Ben?" Josh turned back to light Ben's path. As they walked along, Josh continued to leave the beam of light on the path behind him, making sure Ben could see. "Last night I fell over a tree root," Josh said, "and I don't want--oops!" Down he went, and the flashlight went flying into a bush.

 

After the boys recovered the light, Josh turned to Ben. "Walk up here with me so we can both see where we're going."

When they arrived at the campsite, Josh's family was waiting. "We saw your light and heard a crash," said Mom. "What happened this time?"

"Fell again even though you were using the flashlight, didn't you?" teased Cora. "Maybe you need glasses."

 

After hearing the story, Dad smiled. "Do you know who you remind me of tonight?" he asked. Josh shook his head. "You remind me of myself--again!" Dad said. "You were using your flashlight this time, but you were pointing it on somebody else's path. I've done the same thing with the light of the Bible. There have been times when I've heard God's Word preached at church and thought, I hope so-and-so is listening. They really need to hear this. Or times when I've read something in the Bible and applied it to another person's life instead of my own."

 

"So," began Cora, "we need to shine the Bible's light on our own paths and lives."

 

Dad nodded. "God's Word sometimes contains hard truths, but it also tells us the good news of Jesus and what He did to save us. We need to apply everything it says to our lives. That's the way to keep from falling!"

-Hazel W. Marett

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

As you read today’s Key Verse, did you notice the word my? Read it again, and emphasize that word. Whenever you read the Bible, apply what it says to yourself. Each of us must check our own heart when we hear the truth of God’s Word instead of pointing to others. Trust Jesus to help you shine the light of His Word on your path by applying its truth to your life.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NKJV)

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < August 05, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Christian Says (Friday)

Read: 1 John 3:16-18 

 

"To start our game, I will be Simon," said Miss Elwood, Kennedy's teacher. "And remember, you must always do what Simon says, not what Simon does."

 

All right! thought Kennedy. I'm going to be really careful this time.

 

"Simon says, ‘Thumbs up,'" called Miss Elwood, turning her thumbs up. Kennedy and her classmates did the same. "Simon says, ‘Step forward.'" As Miss Elwood spoke, she stepped forward. The kids followed her example. "Simon says, ‘Snap your fingers.'" But Miss Elwood clapped her hands instead--and before Kennedy could stop herself, she clapped her hands too.

 

"Oops! I goofed!" Kennedy grinned and sank to her seat. She was out.

 

That evening, Kennedy's family sat down to do devotions together. "Today's verse is First John 3:18," said Dad. "It says, ‘Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.' Do you know what that verse means?"

 

"I know," said Kennedy's brother Tatum. "It means we shouldn't just say we love God or people. What we do should go along with what we say."

 

"Right," said Dad. "If Jesus has changed our hearts, it should show in both what we say and what we do."

 

Kennedy laughed. "Simon should learn this verse," she said. "At school when we play Simon Says, I always goof if the person who's Simon says one thing but does another."

 

"That brings up a good point," said Dad. "Sometimes we may act as though we're playing a game like that--maybe it could be called Christian Says. Sometimes Christians say one thing and do another. Can you think of examples of that from your own life? I'll start. Christian says, ‘Love your neighbor,' and then I act in my own self-interest."

 

"Christian says, ‘Love your enemies,' and then I spread rumors about a coworker who's been treating me poorly," offered Mom.

"Christian says, ‘Share with others,' and then I don't let my friends touch my things," said Tatum.

 

Kennedy found this interesting and wanted to add something too. "Umm…Christian says, ‘Be helpful,' and then I sneak out of doing the dishes."

"You've got the idea," Mom said. "Let's trust Jesus to help us make sure our actions match our words." -Hazel W. Marett

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you play Christian Says? You can probably think of times when you said one thing and did another. But Jesus doesn’t play that game. He tells us He loves us in the Bible, and He showed it by dying on the cross for our sin so we could be His children. His actions match His words. That’s how we should love others too. Trust Jesus to help you show others His love in both what you say and what you do.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: 1 John 3:18 (KJV)

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV)