** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional <May 13, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

The Race of Life (Monday)

Read: Philippians 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 4:6-8

 

Panting, Asher crossed the finish line in the big race at school. "Good job!" exclaimed Grandpa, who had come to watch. "Second place--that's great!"

 

Asher grinned. "I wanted to take first," he said breathlessly, "but I knew George would probably beat me. Second's okay too."

 

Several weeks later, when Asher got home from school, his mom told him Grandpa had been taken to the hospital. "We'll go see him after dinner," Mom said, "but you need to know that he's very, very ill."

 

Mom was right. Grandpa was very weak, and as the days passed, he didn't seem to improve. Asher knew his parents were concerned about it.

 

Asher was solemn as he entered his grandfather's hospital room one afternoon. "Hi, Asher," Grandpa said weakly. "Good to see you!"

 

"I'm glad to see you too." Asher gave Grandpa a shaky smile. "I miss you, Gramps! I wish you could come home."

 

"I miss you too," said Grandpa. He took Asher's hand. "I think I'll be going home soon, Asher," Grandpa added softly. "Home to be with Jesus. I'm eager to see Him."

 

Asher gasped. "Grandpa! You don't mean you're gonna die, do you?"

"That sounds awful to you, doesn't it? But remember that I'll be with Jesus."

"But…but…" Asher stuttered.

 

Grandpa smiled. "Asher, how did you feel when you were almost to the finish line in your race a couple months ago? Not there, but almost there."

 

Asher couldn't help grinning as he remembered the race. "Pretty bad. My legs were sore, my chest hurt, I was hot and sweaty, and I wanted a drink." Then as he thought about it, he added, "But in a way, I felt great. I knew the race was almost over, and I knew I'd done my best."

 

"That's exactly how I feel," said Grandpa gently. "Jesus saved me and helped me run a good life race for Him. Now my body is tired and sore, but I'm happy because I can see the finish line up ahead. I look forward to finally seeing Him and all the wonderful things He has prepared for me. Don't feel bad for me, Asher. It's almost time for me to get my prize!"

 

"Okay," Asher whispered tearfully. "I know it's going to be a really good one!"

-Sherry L. Kuyt

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you ever think about growing old and dying? Or perhaps you’re concerned you might die at a young age. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you don’t need to be afraid. Death for a Christian means crossing the finish line and seeing Jesus waiting for you with open arms. So trust Him to help you run a good race for Him, and look forward to the day when you see Him face-to-face.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Philippians 1:21 (KJV)

To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (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 < May 10, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Talking Tongues (Tuesday)

Read: Proverbs 15:1-4; James 3:3-6 

 

"Mom, guess what! Karl's got strep throat!" Nico had just recovered from strep throat, and now others were coming down with it. Nico found his mom on the phone in the living room. "Was that Mrs. Burk?" He asked when Mom hung up. "Sounds like they're going to move to Texas."

 

"Oops! I didn't hear you come in," said Mom. "Don't tell anyone they're moving. Mr. Burk's boss is on vacation, so he hasn't had a chance to tell her yet."

 

Nico didn't tell anyone about the Burks--not until Sunday morning, that is. Then it just sort of slipped out when he told his friend Haru they'd soon have a new Sunday school teacher. "But don't tell anyone," added Nico quickly. And Haru didn't--at least not for a few hours. Then he told his sister Ari, who told her best friend Karen. Not knowing it was a secret, Karen passed the news on to her parents, who mentioned it at a committee meeting.

 

By the end of the week, several more children in Nico's class had strep throat--and several more people knew the Burks were moving.

 

"Nico," said Mom, "I didn't tell anyone the Burks were moving. Did you?"

 

"Well…just Haru. But I told him not to tell," said Nico.

 

"Mrs. Burk says the news is all over town. They're afraid Mr. Burk's boss may hear it before he's able to tell her," said Mom. "News spreads fast."

 

"Like strep throat?" asked Nico.

 

"Something like that," said Mom. "Once you exposed your friends to strep throat, there was nothing you could do to stop it. And when you tell a secret to even one person, the story is almost sure to spread. That's why we need to control our tongues. Even if we're not saying anything bad about someone, sharing secrets they don't want others to know can hurt them, and it shows that we can't be trusted to keep confidences. Does that sound like Jesus to you?" Nico shook his head, and Mom continued. "Jesus is trustworthy, so we need to depend on Him to help us be trustworthy too."

 

Nico sighed. "I'm sorry. Next time I learn something I'm not supposed to tell, I'll pretend it's a contagious disease--like strep throat--and be careful not to expose anybody else." -Linda Weddle

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you keep secrets? Or do you think it won’t hurt if you tell just one person? Occasionally, you may be told something parents or a trusted adult need to know—like if someone is being abused or is engaged in harmful behavior, for example. Then be sure you do tell. But generally, when you’re taken into someone’s confidence, don’t talk about it to anyone else. Show others that you are trustworthy like Jesus.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Proverbs 11:13 (KJV)

A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. (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 < May 11, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Just Like Clockwork (Wednesday)

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:14-22 

 

Kaya walked into the living room and slumped onto the couch. Grandpa looked up from his work on the grandfather clock and laid aside a tool. "What's wrong?" he asked.

 

Kaya picked at the fuzz on her jacket. "Oh, nothing. It's just that when the Millers came to church last Sunday, they were talking about all the amazing things they've seen God do in Brazil. After the service, I went up to them and explained that I wanted to help them with their missions work."

 

"That's great, Kaya!" Grandpa said. "What's wrong with that?"

 

"Well, I thought that maybe I could join them out in the jungle for the summer, but instead they said they needed help with their mailing. I just spent the last hour stuffing envelopes with letter updates for the Millers' ministry partners. I wish I could do something actually useful for missions work!"

 

Grandpa furrowed his brow. "Come here," he said. Kaya joined him. "Do you see this gear?" Grandpa handed Kaya a small gear about the size of the dime.

 

Kaya cradled it in her palm. "It's so small!"

 

Grandpa gently opened a panel in the back of the clock.

 

"Oh, wow!" Kaya exclaimed. Inside the grandfather clock was a labyrinth of gears, springs, wheels, and hooks.

 

"It may not look like much," Grandpa said, "but this gear is essential to the working of the clock. When the clock didn't chime this afternoon, I opened it up and noticed this gear was out of place. I was just about to fix it when you walked in." Grandpa carefully put the gear back in the clock and shut the panel. Moving around to the front, he pushed the minute hand past the twelve, and the clock chimed. "The body of Christ is the same way. Each person who trusts in Jesus is part of His church, and we work together to help more people know about His love for them and what He did to save them. Even things that may look insignificant on the surface are an integral part of how Jesus uses us to reach others."

 

"So even though I may not think stuffing envelopes is that exciting, I'm still serving Jesus?" asked Kaya.

"Exactly!" Grandpa grinned. "Even the small parts make a big difference."

-Olivia Summers

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you feel like your service is unimportant? Do you wish you could be making more of a difference? Whether you’re volunteering in the nursery, washing church dishes, or raising money for missionaries, God views your work as important. Sometimes the most unnoticed things are the most foundational. Be faithful with the service opportunities Jesus has given you, knowing you are helping His body of believers share His love with the world.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 12:22 (KJV)

Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are actually very important. (ERV)

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < May 12, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

The Race of Life (Part 1) (Thursday)

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25; Hebrews 12:1-2

 

"Gramps!" Asher called as he burst into his grandpa's house. "Next month we're going to have a big race at our school, and I'm going to be in it. I can't wait! There will be prizes and everything."

 

Grandpa chuckled. "You'd better slow down, or you'll be worn out before the race starts," he teased. "If you're serious about running, it would be a good idea to cut down on junk foods. I ran a few races in my college days, and I remember the coach emphasizing the importance of a good diet."

 

Asher groaned. "My gym teacher said the same thing, but I love candy and ice cream and potato chips! In fact, I love all the things they say are bad for you. How am I gonna live one whole month without all that good stuff?"

"Well, you can eat it if you want to. It's up to you," said Grandpa. "Of course, if you're really serious about winning, you'll probably want to cut out anything that would keep you from reaching your goal."

 

Asher thought for a moment. "I do want to win, and I'll do everything I can to come in first--even give up candy and stuff like that. The prize will be worth it."

Grandpa nodded. "You know, Asher, the Bible compares our Christian lives to a race. Our goal is to run a good race before we cross the finish line and see Jesus face-to-face. To do well in the race of life, we may need to give up some things too."

"Like what?" asked Asher.

 

"Well, we might be holding on to sinful habits that are slowing us down--things like lying, gossiping, or a bad temper. Or maybe we're too focused on our own comfort and enjoyment, and we need to pick up the pace and find more ways to show the love of Jesus to those around us."

 

Asher sighed. "That sounds even harder than giving up junk food for the race at school!"

 

"Maybe, but don't forget that you're not running the race of life alone," said Grandpa. "Jesus is right by your side, and He will help you run a good race. Nothing we give up in this world can compete with the prize He won for us--eternal life with Him."

 

-Sherry L. Kuyt

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you running your best race in life? Or are you holding on to things that slow you down? Don’t let anything get in the way of your goal to run a good race. Let Jesus help you keep your eyes on the prize as you trust and follow Him each day. He saved you so you could have eternal life with Him. Nothing you give up can compare with the reward of seeing Him at the finish line.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)

Let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us. (CSB)

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < May 14, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

A Special Diet (Friday)

Read: Romans 14:1-7, 22-23

 

"Mom, how come Christians have such different ideas about right and wrong?" asked Avery one day. "You and Dad won't let us watch some movies that Stella's parents think are okay. And Naomi says her family avoids doing certain things on Sunday that we do almost every Sunday. Why can't Christians agree on what's right and what's wrong?"

 

"There isn't a simple answer to that, but…" Mom hesitated. "We're having Uncle Paul and Aunt Sue over for dinner tonight, right? And we'll all eat quite differently. Aunt Sue has diabetes and avoids starchy foods. Uncle Paul is on a diet to lower his cholesterol."

 

"And Daddy wants to lose weight." Avery giggled. "I guess he'll eat a big salad and not too much of the other stuff."

 

Avery's brother Cole spoke up. "Yeah, but what does that have to do with it?"

 

"Well, people have different physical conditions, so they have different dietary needs," said Mom. "And because Christians have different backgrounds and levels of maturity, they have different spiritual needs."

 

"You mean, what's right for one person may not be right for another?" Cole asked.

 

"Possibly," said Mom. "God may convict one believer about a certain activity because it would cause him--or those around him--to stumble in the Christian walk. Or someone may have a tender conscience about something because she had a bad experience related to it, or because of the way she was brought up. Then it would be wrong for her to take part in that activity, though it might not be harmful for someone else."

 

"So, each person can decide what they can and can't do?" Avery asked.

 

"Well, many things are spelled out so clearly in the Bible that there's no room to argue about them. As to things not specifically mentioned, we need to depend on the Holy Spirit to show us the best choice for us. We also need to be understanding of Christians who have different convictions than we do. They're our brothers and sisters in Christ who are loved and accepted by God just like we are--even though none of us is perfect."

 

"Okay." Avery grinned. "One thing I know the Bible is clear about is for kids to obey their parents. So for now, I'll just ask you what I can do."

 

-Sherry L. Kuyt

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you trust God to help you decide what things you should or should not do? Many issues are not specifically spelled out in the Bible, so don’t be critical of the way others handle them. On the other hand, don’t do something you have doubts about, even if other Christians are doing it. Be willing to accept your parents’ guidance as you form your own convictions.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Romans 14:5 (KJV)

Everyone should be sure about their beliefs in their own mind. (ERV)