YE3C.1 · Activity Page
Psalm 18:28
Psalm 27:1-14
Psalm 46:1
Proverbs 4:19
Matthew 5:14-16
Mark 9:38-50
Luke 14:34-35
John 1:1-14
John 3:19-20
John 8:12-19
Ephesians 5:1-14
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 Peter 2:9
PASSAGEWAY - a narrow way for passing from one place to another
SPELUNKER - someone who explores caves
UNAPPETIZING - does not stimulate you to eat
Do you know what a spelunker is? He is someone who explores caves. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it. Would you like to be one? Imagine being the first person to discover a cave or new passageway inside a cave. What secrets does it hold? Was it an outlaw hideout?
Mammoth Cave, in central Kentucky, is the world’s longest cave. Something necessary for every spelunker is light! Imagine feeling your way along wet, slippery rocks in complete darkness. All of a sudden you tumble down, down, into a lower passageway. What dangers lie ahead? Which way should you go? Without a light you would be lost and without hope.
Listen to this! God says, “But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness. They don’t know what makes them trip and fall (Proverbs 4:19 NIrV). Does that mean they are always in the dark? No, it means they are missing a different kind of light – the light of Jesus Christ.
John said, “The true light that gives light to every man is coming into the world” (John 1:9 NIrV). Peter said, “He brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9 NIrV). They were both speaking of Jesus! If you follow Him, you will not walk in darkness. But, what does that mean?
Spelunkers need a light to see which way to go, and where the dangers are in a cave. With Jesus in your life you will never have to face troubles alone (Psalm 46:1). He is a Friend who is always with you. He will help you make wise decisions and avoid dangers.
Not only is Jesus the light of the world, He says that you should also be a light to others. But, how can you be a light?
For a lamp or light bulb to work, it must be plugged into a power source called electricity. If it isn’t plugged in, there is no power – no light. And for our light to shine in this dark world, we also need a power source. The greatest power source in the universe is Jesus Christ! He gives us His power through His Spirit.
After His resurrection, Jesus said He would give His disciples the gift and power of His Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit makes our lives like a light shining in a dark room or cave. God expects those receiving this gift to be examples for Him.
Everything you do has an impact on someone. It may be a little brother, a friend at school, a neighbor, or even your parents or grandparents. People are watching and listening to what you do and say. They hear if you use bad language. They find out if you take something that doesn’t belong to you. They see if you are kind, loving, and forgiving. So, start cleaning up your act! Ask, “What would Jesus do?”
Jesus also said you are the world’s seasoning – you are like salt. Salt adds flavor to food, makes it taste better. If you ate mashed potatoes without salt in them, you would probably ask, “What’s wrong with these potatoes?” They would be tasteless, unappetizing.
You and I are to do the same thing in the world as salt does for mashed potatoes. Christians add flavor by their actions. Kind and loving actions are like salt in mashed potatoes. A good attitude and helpful actions add more salt to flavor the world. Obeying the Golden Rule and doing good to others can make the world a better place to live.
Jesus shares His light with you. He expects you to share it with others and to add flavor to the world. Don’t be pushy. But when people ask why you don’t celebrate Christmas or Halloween, tell them what you believe. When they ask, tell them why you go to the Feast – you are obeying God’s commands.
But Wait! Will they ask you questions about God if you’re not living by God’s standards, if your light is not shining for God? Probably not. They will remain in darkness without a shining light. Letting your light shine before men is an important job to do. Flavor the world with your kindness and light it up with your good deeds.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please guide us in being salt and light to those around us. Help us to really act like your children in this world.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - John 8:12-19
Monday - Psalm 27:1-14
Tuesday - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Wednesday - John 1:1-14
Thursday - Mark 9:38-50
Friday - Luke 14:34-35
Saturday - Ephesians 5:1-14
Matthew 5:17-48
Matthew 5:18
Romans 10:1-5
Ephesians 4:26-27
1 John 3:15
EMOTIONS - strong feelings, such as love, hate, fear, and anger
HAMPER - a large, covered basket
REVENGE - to get even for a wrong done
Jason’s mom went to wake him for school. His room was a mess! Clothes were on the floor, books and toys were scattered everywhere. A plate of half-eaten pizza stuck out from under his bed. Half a can of Coke and a bag of popcorn spilled onto the floor. Mom said, “Jason, I want this mess cleaned up right after school!”
“Aw Mom, I was going to play basketball with the guys,” Jason said. “I’ll clean it later.” But, Mom told him to come straight home and clean his room.
After school Jason stomped into the house and up to his room. He started throwing things. Pizza and popcorn were tossed in the trash. Books were thrown in the bookcase. He threw his clothes and shoes in the closet and clothes hamper. Jason cleaned his room, but his attitude stunk! Often your attitude pleases or displeases your parents as much as your actions.
What is your attitude about keeping God’s law? Do you keep His commands as He expects you to? When you do, you are obeying the letter of the law. But actions are only part of keeping God’s law. What is your attitude? When keeping God’s law, we call your attitude the spirit of the law.
You would never murder anyone. But do you ever get really angry – angry enough to hurt someone? Jesus says, “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged” (Matthew 5:22 NIrV). You might say, “You mean I should never be angry?” No. There are some things you should be angry about, like evil. But Paul says, “When you are angry, do not sin . . . Don’t give the devil a chance” (Ephesians 4:26 NIrV).
Is it easy to get angry and not lose your cool? Anger can get out of control so easily – like fire fanned by a strong wind. Anger can make you say things you shouldn’t. Calling people bad names has consequences (Matthew 5:22).
Do your actions show love when you are mad and calling someone names? When left unchecked, anger can turn to hate. And John says anyone who hates his brother is guilty of murder, and murderers won’t inherit eternal life (1 John 3:15)! Being angry and hating someone breaks God’s law that says, “Do not commit murder.” Keep the spirit of the law – don’t let anger get out of control.
God wants His children to be responsible for their actions. You can’t really worship God if you are angry and fighting. Make up – make things right! God will not get you out of messes you make for yourself. You must take responsibility and make amends.
Do your eyes get you in trouble? Looking at dirty magazines or dirty web sites will affect your thoughts and desires. Jesus says to stay away from things that cause you to sin.
You probably hear people using bad language every day. You may even be tempted to do it yourself. But Jesus says you shouldn’t swear. You don’t have to use bad language to get your point across. When you just do what you say you will, people learn they can trust you. Actions speak louder than words!
Your actions also speak loudly when someone does something bad to you. What is your first reaction when someone hits you? Do you want to hit them back or get even? Jesus said, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39). You can defend yourself, but don’t seek revenge.
Does it sound crazy when Christ says we should love and pray for our enemies? It’s not easy. But God can change lives and humble attitudes. A person will stop being mean and hateful if God is working in his life. So, pray that God will be involved in the lives of your enemies.
Christ ends Matthew 5 by saying, “be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Perfect? And you thought all the other things were hard! Christ was the only one to live a perfect life – but He wants everyone to try. Keep His law not only with your actions, but with your attitude, too. Ask God to help you have wisdom and strength to keep the spirit of the law.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Jesus asked us to become perfect just as you are perfect. Please give me the wisdom and the strength to follow the spirit of your holy and righteous law.
In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Sunday - Matthew 5:17-20
Monday - Ephesians 4:26-27
Tuesday - 1 John 3:15
Wednesday - Romans 10:1-5
Thursday - Matthew 5:21-26
Friday - Matthew 5:27-32
Saturday - Matthew 5:33-48
Joshua 1:5
Proverbs 3:5-6
Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
Luke 12:41-48
Luke 19:11-27
Romans 8:28-39
Colossians 3:23-24
Hebrews 13:1-6
James 1:17-18
MINA - (translated as talent) a unit of money, worth about three months’ wages
SCURRY - to run around quickly
Have you ever watched ants hard at work in an ant farm or outside? They scurry along carrying bits of food. Sometimes they work together to carry large pieces. Each tiny creature seems to have a job to do. They work hard storing food so they will have enough for winter. But who tells them what to do?
When God gives you, or even the tiny ant, a job to do, He will show you how to do it! Proverbs says, “In all your ways remember him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight” (Proverbs 3:6).
Have you ever wondered how the greatest NBA basketball players are able to jump so high? What about great baseball players? What if they had never picked up a baseball bat? Or, what if NHL stars hadn’t taken the time to learn how to ice skate? Our sports world might be a much different place.
What if Thomas Edison hadn’t been interested in science? We might still be in the dark! Think about Henry Ford and Alexander Graham Bell. What would our world be like without the invention of the telephone or the assembly line? Oh, maybe someone else would have done all these things. But maybe, just maybe, the talents of each person were given to them by God for a specific purpose. And maybe someone had the ability to invent a light bulb, but didn’t. Why?
Jesus told about a wealthy man who was going on a trip. He was traveling to a distant country to be made king, and would return home. Before he left, he gave each of his servants ten minas. He said, “Put this money to work until I come back” (Luke 19:13 NIrV).
When he returned, the first servant said he had invested the money. It had doubled the amount! The master was very happy. He gave his good and faithful servant a reward. He was made ruler over ten cities.
The second servant had also made money for his master. He gave him five more minas than he started out with. Again the master was happy. He put him in charge of five cities.
The third servant gave his master back the exact amount he had been given. He had kept it hidden in a piece of cloth. He told the master, “I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in. You harvest what you did not plant.” The master got angry and said, “If you knew this, why didn’t you put my money in the bank so it would earn interest?” He took the money from the servant and gave it to the one who had earned the most.
God expects us to use what we’ve been given. We should work hard with the talents, money, or gifts He gives us. He will guide you if you ask Him for help to know what to do. He rewards the tiny ants for their hard work by giving them food in winter. And our memory verse says He will reward us for working for Him.
God has a special plan for you, no matter who you are or where you live. He will help you accomplish His plan. David probably had no idea he would someday be a king. After all, he started out as a mere shepherd boy. It was one of the least important jobs to people around him. But God chose David to be king of over Israel!
Following God’s will isn’t always easy. Sometimes you have to go through difficult things. After God chose David as king, Saul chased him and tried to kill him many times. You, too, may have to go through some difficult things while you are following God. But God gives us this promise, “I will never leave you. I will never desert you” (Hebrews 13:5). He uses everything that happens to you to make you the person He wants you to be.
God gives you your talents. They are a special gift from Him. What will you do with them? What does God want you to do? Trust God and pray for His guidance and protection. Ask for His wisdom. Read your Bible daily. And, “Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters. Work because you know that you will finally receive as a reward what the Lord wants you to have” (Colossians 3:23-24, NIrV). The greatest thing you could hope to hear from God is what the master told his servant, “Well done, my good servant!”`
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for each talent that you have lent me. Lead me to do your will and to be a good and faithful servants for your glory.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - Luke 19:11-27
Monday - Romans 8:28-39
Tuesday - Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
Wednesday - Proverbs 3:5-6
Thursday - Hebrews 13:1-6
Friday - Luke 12:41-48
Saturday - James 1:17-18
Matthew 12:46-50
Matthew 12:49-50
Matthew 13:53-58
Mark 3:31-35
Mark 6:1-6
Luke 8:19-21
John 6:39-40
John 14:15-16
Romans 8:14-17
Romans 8:35-39
Galatians 5:22-23
Hebrews 9:1-28
James 1:1-16
2 Peter 3:1-18
Revelation 21:1-7
BULLIES - people who hurt or browbeat those who are weaker
COMPREHEND - to understand fully
DISRESPECTFUL - to treat with little or no regard
How many people make up your family? Do you have a mom and dad in your home? Do you have brothers and sisters? If you are especially blessed of God you may have an older brother who is good to you. He helps you with your homework. He lets you tag along on his activities. He protects you from bullies and things that might hurt you. Oh, sometimes he may say you are a pest. But, you know he really loves you! This is just a little glimpse of how fantastic it is to have Jesus Christ as your Older Brother! You might ask, “How can Jesus be my Brother? Jesus Christ is God!”
One day Jesus was teaching a crowd of people. He said, “Anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother or sister or mother.” What encouraging words. It is possible to be the brother or sister of Jesus Christ! Wow! What would that be like?
Our relationship to Jesus is much better than with any earthly brother. He promises to give eternal life to those who believe in Him and seek to do the will of God. One day Jesus will return to earth. He will raise His people to be kings and priests with Him. He has prepared a place for us. In this place there will not be sorrow, pain, or trouble. We can live with Him forever!
But Jesus has not set up His Kingdom on earth yet. Who will guide us, help us, and comfort us? Jesus promised, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:15- 17 NIV). This “Counselor” is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will encourage you to make wise decisions. God’s Spirit will develop these character traits in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit will teach you and help your life work much more smoothly.
When you become a child of God, He gives you His Holy Spirit. You receive the mind and power of God to help you become more like Him. Having the Holy Spirit in your life is proof that you are God’s child. Wow – think about that! You have evidence that you truly are a child of God! There’s a good reason why we call Him Father!
The book of Romans tells us one day we will inherit everything our Older Brother, Jesus, inherits – “We will share what Christ receives.” That is almost too incredible to comprehend! When Christ returns to set up His Kingdom, we will inherit this world because we are God’s children. He is the King of kings. You will be princes and princesses with Him! Awesome!
Why would Christ do all of this for us? Because He loves us and wants to show us His love! There is nothing in the world that can take His love away from us! Yes, sometimes we turn our backs on God, but He will never turn His back on us. He will never walk away from us if we love and obey Him. And what’s more, the Apostle Paul tells us, “I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God’s love. . . Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done” (Romans 8:38-39 NIrV).
Mark 6:3 tells us that Jesus’ mother, Mary, had other sons and daughters. These would be Jesus’ half-brothers and sisters. Yet, Jesus calls His disciples His brothers, sisters, and mother. Is this confusing? Was Jesus being disrespectful to His mother and family? Didn’t He care about them at all?
As Jesus hung dying on the stake, His last thoughts were for the care of His family. He loved them very much. Even in His great pain, Jesus wanted to make sure Mary would be cared for. He told John to take care of her as if she were his own mother. Jesus was not being disrespectful to His family when He referred to the disciples as His family. He was talking about expanding His family! He was including you and me and all those who follow Him in His family.
What a wonderful opportunity Jesus has given us. We can become part of His family and He will be our Older Brother! This fantastic promise is given to all those who love Him and do His will. It is proof that Family Matters!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be in your family. Help me to love you, to follow your ways and to do your will.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - Luke 8:19-21
Monday - Mark 3:31-35
Tuesday - Matthew 13:53-58
Wednesday - James 1:1-16
Thursday - Mark 6:1-6
Friday - Hebrews 9:1-28
Saturday - 2 Peter 3:1-18
Proverbs 3:5-6
Matthew 13:1-23
Matthew 17:20-21
Mark 4:1-9, 26-29
Luke 8:4-15
Luke 8:15
Galatians 6:7-9
1 Peter 1:13-23
1 Peter 5:8-9
EXHILARATING - to make cheerful and lively
NURTURED - fed and cared for
NUTRIENTS - food essential for life
PHOTOSYNTHESIS - production of nutrients in the cells of a plant, using light, water, and carbon dioxide
Don’t you just love the springtime? Its exhilarating! Fields are green with growing things. Flowers open their colorful petals and decorate the landscape. Tiny leaves and blossoms pop out on the trees. But all this doesn’t happen by accident. Many things are necessary for things to grow healthy and beautiful.
Seeds must have good soil to grow into healthy plants. The soil must be healthy – it must have nutrients. It must be prepared for planting the tiny seeds. Seeds planted in bad soil might sprout, but they will soon die.
What about water? That is another necessary ingredient. But, you must be careful to give just the right amount – not too much or too little.
What else does the seed need? Sunlight is essential to grow healthy plants. The sun warms the ground and encourages the seeds to sprout. Through photosynthesis, leaves transform water and gasses into nutrients to feed the plant.
But that’s not all! Plants must be nurtured – cared for. They must be protected from things that might hurt them. Weeds must be pulled so they will not take all the moisture from the tiny plant and block out the sunlight. Think about it! It is amazing that the seeds we plant actually survive and become sturdy plants.
Jesus taught a parable about a farmer who went out to plant His garden. He scattered the seeds. Some seeds fell on a hard path instead of the soft soil. Birds saw the seeds and came and ate them. Those seeds didn’t have a chance to grow.
Some of the seeds fell on rocky places where there wasn’t much soil. They sprouted, but they didn’t have enough soil to grow strong. The sun came out and burned the tiny plants. They had no roots. Other seeds fell where there were thorny weeds. The weeds blocked the sun and chocked the tiny plants so they died.
But some of the seeds fell in the rich soil. The soil had been prepared for planting. As the sun warmed the soil the seeds sprouted and grew. There were no weeds to choke them. The roots made their way deep into the soil and the plants were nourished. When the farmer went out to gather his crops there were many times more than what he planted!
The disciples knew Jesus wasn’t just giving them a lesson in farming. They asked Him what He meant by this story. Jesus told them, “The seed is God’s message” (Luke 8:11). He explained that when God’s Word falls on the hard path, or hard heart, the devil comes and takes it away.
Jesus said that the seeds that fell on the rocks are like people who listen to God’s Word and think it is great. They read their Bibles and believe what God says is true. But when hard times come they don’t depend on God. Their faith is like the roots that couldn’t go deep enough. Hard times cause their faith to wither and die.
The seeds among the thorns are like people who let the things of this world choke out God’s Word. Oh, they hear and believe that God is Supreme. They believe He has a plan, salvation, and His Kingdom for them. But, they are more interested making money or having fun than doing God’s will. Things take their attention away from God. They don’t grow into the person God wants them to be.
The seeds that fell on the good soil are like people who hear God’s Word and believe. They are good people who hold onto God’s truth. They put Him first in their lives. They don’t let anything come between themselves and God.
To Grow God’s Way your faith must be strong. You must trust God to lead you through hard times. Watch out for the choking weeds of money, pleasure, or worries. Trust God to give you the things you need, like food, clothes, or shelter. Worries can choke out hope and joy from your life.
Don’t give up! Just as the farmer cares for the tiny seeds, God cares for you. He has something special planned for you. Make sure your soil is rich with nutrients from God’s Word, and keep Growing God’s Way!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Make me like the good soil. May the seeds of your Word be planted in my heart, may it grow and produce a bountiful harvest. Thank you for your understanding and guidance in my life.
In Jesus’ name.men.
Sunday - Mark 4:1-9
Monday - Matthew 13:1-17
Tuesday - Mark 4:26-29
Wednesday - Luke 8:4-15
Thursday - 1 Peter 1:13-23
Friday - Matthew 13:18-23
Saturday - Galatians 6:7-9
Psalm 91:14-15
Matthew 13:24-30
Matthew 13:36-43
Ephesians 6:10-18
1 Thes 5:21-22
1 Peter 5:8-9
CLUSTERED - a number of things grouped together
DISTINGUISH - able to tell the difference
EVIDENT - clear, easy to see
REPRESENTED - to stand for
Josh and Jennie walked through the woods looking for wild berries. They caught sight of something bright red. Was it a berry patch? No. There were no berries to be found. Instead they saw a vine with some red leaves. Just then Josh remembered a rhyme his science teacher taught the class: Leaves of three, let it be! Yes, there were three leaves clustered together. This was poison ivy! It looked good at first, but it was a weed, not berries.
Jesus told a story about Weeds In The Garden in Matthew 13:24-30. He said the Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing choice seeds in his garden. But one night his enemy came in while the farmer was asleep. He sowed weeds along the same row where the farmer had sowed wheat seeds. In a few days little shoots of wheat poked through the ground. But guess what. Weeds grew in the rows along with the wheat. Just like the poison ivy would never produce blackberries, the weeds would never produce grain.
The farmer’s workmen told him about the weeds. They explained an enemy had planted them. “Should we pull up all the Weeds In The Garden?” they asked. The farmer knew that the roots of the wheat and weeds would be tangled together. If they pulled up weeds, the wheat would also be pulled up. He told the workers, “Let them grow together until harvest time.” They could tell the difference then. The wheat could be picked and put in the barn. The weeds would be burnt in a fire.
Jesus wanted us to know that there are two kinds of people in the world. Christians are like wheat. People who don’t obey and follow God are like weeds. Sometimes its hard to tell the difference just by looking. Jesus wants us to understand that looking like a Christian, and even going to church every Sabbath, isn’t what makes us God’s children. He looks at what’s in our hearts!
Here again, Jesus wasn’t just giving a farming lesson. He wanted us to learn some- thing more. He said the garden represents the world. The one who planted the choice wheat seeds was Jesus. These seeds are like God’s children. They grow to love and serve Him. They tell others about Christ and God’s Kingdom. But, the weeds are like those who won’t obey God. Satan put them here to choke out the good seeds. He doesn’t want you to become a child of God. He doesn’t want you to follow Jesus.
But, like the poison ivy, it may be hard to tell by looking if these people are good or bad. They may grow right alongside Christians without anyone knowing the difference. But God knows! How do you think He can tell?
Wheat produces grain – the weeds can’t. As Christians grow, they produce grain or fruit. You follow Jesus. You love Him. You have faith in Him. You want to do His will and obey His commands. You find ways to help others.
When Christ returns, it will be harvest time. Angels will reap the harvest for Christ. He will know who the real Christians are. Angels will harvest Christians, not grain. And, the Christians will be put into God’s Kingdom, not a barn. The weeds will be burned up. This is another reason Jesus told us this story. He wants us to know what the consequences are for people who don’t follow Him and don’t bear fruit.
What happened to the weeds? They were burned up. Jesus wants us to know there are consequences for people who don’t follow Him and bear fruit. Jesus says, “By their fruits you will recognize them. . . . Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 7:16, 19).
What kind of fruit or grain will Christ look for in His garden? Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of a true Christian are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God can’t be deceived. He knows the difference between weeds and good fruit. And, He knows the difference between a real and a fake Christian.
Pay close attention to this story. It says the “godly shall shine as the sun in their Father’s Kingdom.” Don’t you want to shine in God’s Kingdom?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Jesus Christ who will help me produce fruit in my life. I want to be like the wheat and not Weeds In The Garden.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - Matthew 13:24-30
Monday - Matthew 13:36-43
Tuesday - 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
Wednesday - 1 Peter 5:8-9
Thursday - Ephesians 6:10-18
Friday - Psalm 91:14-15
Saturday - 1 Corinthians 4:5
Matthew 18:1-6
Matthew 19:16-30
Matthew 21:28-32
Luke 9:57-62
Luke 18:1-30
John 6:35-40
John 14:2, 6
1 Corinthians 2:9
James 2:14-19
Revelation 21:4
ELIMINATE - to get rid of
FAITH - have confidence or trust in someone or something, shown through actions
FALSE TESTIMONY - telling lies
POSSESSIONS - things you own
Suppose someone gave you a whole handful of keys. One of those keys fit the door of a room filled with video games, toys, bicycles, candy, and other good things. But the only way for you to enter the room is to find the right key! What will you do? Will you take time to eliminate keys that obviously won’t fit? Will you call a locksmith to help you find the right key. Or will you just try any old key?
Going into God’s Kingdom is like going through a door. You really want to go through the door because God has prepared wonderful things for those who love Him. It is better than anything you could imagine. There will be no hungry or hurting people there. The problem is, there is only one key that will fit that door. You have to choose the right key. The good news is, God tells you what the key is!
One day a rich young man asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” The man was looking for the key to the door. Jesus told him he must obey God’s commandments. Did you hear that? Jesus gave the man the key – sort of. The man wanted to be absolutely sure he had the right key. After all, there were over 600 laws in his religion. So he asked, “Which commandments should I keep?”
Jesus told the man, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Do you recognize these? The first five come from the Ten Commandments.
Still the man wasn’t sure he had it narrowed down to the right key. He said he had done these things all his life. He wanted to know what else he should do. So Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give them to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The man went away very sad because he had much wealth.
The disciples were confused when Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter God’s Kingdom. They thought having great wealth meant that God was blessing you. Would God bless some- one who wasn’t doing what was right? But, the problem for the rich man wasn’t that he had money. It was that he didn’t have faith! The rich man was more concerned with making money, or with keeping what he had. He didn’t have faith to leave all his money and put Jesus first in his life. So, being rich won’t help us find the key.
Let’s look at the door before we try a key. John 10:7 tells us that Jesus is the door to the Kingdom of Heaven. He is the only way into God’s Kingdom. We can’t crawl over the walls. We can’t tunnel underneath. We can’t get in by ourselves. Even being really good isn’t the key.
What is the key? Jesus’ disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus told them, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Here’s a clue to the key we’re trying to find. We can’t get into the Kingdom by what we do. Have you found the key yet? It is faith in Jesus! Jesus was teaching that the key to entering the Kingdom is believing in Jesus Christ!
What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? First you become His disciple. You must be willing to do what He asks you. You have to show love to people around you. You can’t think that something else, like money, is more important. If you aren’t willing to give what you have to someone else if God asks you to, then you aren’t putting Him first. You’re not showing Jesus that you believe in Him.
We have to believe (have faith) in Jesus Christ with our whole heart! How do we show that we believe and love Him? We keep His commandments because He asks us to. We are kind and thoughtful to others because He asks us to be. We read the Bible and try to do what He wants us to do, even when it’s not what we want to do ourselves.
Do you ask, like Peter, “What’s in it for me?” Maybe you don’t want to give up everything for God. You don’t want to miss out on what everyone else gets to do. But, the rewards for being obedient because you have faith in Jesus and love Him are incredible! Jesus will give eternal life and one hundred times more than you give up!
Having faith in Jesus Christ is the key. Are you willing to put your trust in Him? Will you love Him and be willing to do what He says?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for preparing a place for me in your Kingdom. Thank you that Jesus is the only way into your Kingdom. Please teach me how to love you and serve you with my whole heart so I can show my faith in Jesus.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - Matthew 19:16-30
Monday - James 2:14-19
Tuesday - Matthew 21:28-32
Wednesday - John 6:35-40
Thursday - Luke 18:1-30
Friday - Luke 9:57-62
Saturday - Matthew 18:1-6
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Psalm 73:3-5
Micah 6:8
Matthew 5:45
Matthew 7:11-12
Luke 6:27-31
Luke 6:35
2 Peter 3:9
COMMOTION - loud noise, chaos, lots of movement
HARSH - extremely severe, unkind, strict
TORMENTING - intentionally causing pain
One day Anne heard a terrible commotion from the neighbor’s geese. She looked out her bedroom window to see what was going on. Anne saw her little brother chasing the geese and kicking their tails to see how far they would fly. This made Anne very upset. She marched through the house, ready to go outside and put a stop to the tormenting. Anne’s dad asked her where she was going in such a huff. She told him what was happening. She said she was going to kick her little brother to see if he liked it!
Anne intended to demonstrate to her little brother what we call The Golden Rule. It says you should “Do to others what you want them to do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIrV). Unfortunately, Anne didn’t understand the Golden Rule very well herself. She really shouldn’t have planned to kick her brother. She surely wouldn’t want someone to kick her! Also, her idea didn’t go over too well with her dad!
Why was it wrong for Anne to kick her brother? After all, he was kicking the geese. Jesus told His disciples, “If you don’t want people to hate you, don’t hate them. If you don’t want people to curse and treat you badly, don’t be mean to them. In the same way, don’t hit others and don’t steal from others.”
Sometimes it’s difficult to know what the right action is. But Jesus explains what we should do when He says to, “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” When someone is mean to you, think about The Golden Rule. If you were the one who treated someone else badly, would you want that person to retaliate or get even? Of course not! You would want him or her to be kind, generous and forgiving. This isn’t always easy, but it’s what a Christian should do.
What if the person who harms you is an enemy and not a friend? Jesus taught that if you love someone who loves you, you are no different than sinners. They are good to people who love them. But, Jesus says that you should love your enemies and be good to them with- out expecting anything back. That is really hard! Sometimes it is even hard to love your brothers and sisters and be nice to them!
Why would Jesus want us to be nice to people who are so mean to us? Think about how God, our Heavenly Father, treats us. He sent His only Son to earth to die for us – and Jesus didn’t deserve to die. God sends rain to water the gardens of both the good and bad people. God is kind to people who do bad things and don’t even care are about Him. That’s the kind of Heavenly Father we have.
Why is God kind to people who do bad things? He wants to give everyone a chance to turn away from doing evil. He is very patient. He doesn’t want anyone to suffer eternal death. He wants them to turn away from their bad actions. He wants them to accept Jesus and live because He truly loves us all.
Jesus Christ wants us to be like that! He wants us to treat other people with the same kind of love and goodness that God treats all people. And, He says that if you treat people the way you want to be treated you will have a great reward. He is kind and shows mercy. If you are His child, you should try to be like our Heavenly Father.
Now, think back. Anne was angry because her brother was treating the geese badly. She knew her brother wouldn’t want to be kicked in his tail feathers. If he wouldn’t like it, he certainly shouldn’t be doing it to the geese! But Anne forgot that The Golden Rule applied to her too! She would make mistakes in her life. She certainly wouldn’t want her parents to be as harsh in correcting her as she wanted to be with her brother. If Anne wants her parents to be kind to her when she does wrong, she needs to show the same kindness to her brother. Yes, she should have stopped him from kicking the geese. But, her desire to kick him was wrong! Anne should have remembered The Golden Rule. Her Heavenly Father would have corrected her brother in kindness and gentleness.
Do you think Anne’s brother could learn how to be kind (even to animals) if Anne had been kind to him? When you stop to think about it, The Golden Rule is a great rule by which to live!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you are kind and loving to me when I don’t deserve it. Please teach me how to show the same kindness to others that I want to receive from them and from you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - Luke 6:27-31
Monday - Matthew 7:12
Tuesday - Matthew 5:45
Wednesday - Matthew 7:11
Thursday - Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Friday - Micah 6:8
Saturday - Psalm 73:3-5
Psalm 86:15
Psalm 103:2-3, 8-12
Proverbs 11:17
Matthew 18:15-35
Luke 6:35-38
Luke 17:3
John 8:1-11
1 John 3:11-24
COMPASSION - a feeling to being sorry for others
DEBT - something that one owes another
PATIENCE - able to put up with delay without complaining
RETRIBUTION - to pay back, evil for evil, or what is owed
Do remember the last time you did something you really got into trouble for doing? Were you sorry that you misbehaved? Or were you just sorry that you got into trouble? There is a difference, you know! Do you think your parents punished you more than they should have? Or, do you think they let you off easy? If you didn’t really get what you deserved, why do you think they didn’t punish you more? Perhaps they were showing you mercy.
But, what is mercy? Mercy is not punishing someone as harshly as they deserve. It is how we hope God will treat us when we sin. The writer of the Psalms says that God is “slow to anger” and that He forgives all our sins. God removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west.” He doesn’t treat us the way we really deserve. It is only right then for God to expect each of us to show mercy to others.
Jesus often used parables, or stories, to teach His disciples and people lessons He wanted them to learn. In today’s parable He taught His disciples that He expected them to show mercy. And, He expects the same from us.
There was a king who had lots of servants. One of his servants owed the king a huge amount of money. The king decided to sell the servant to another king. That was the way the king could get the money that the servant owed him. But, the servant begged the king to have patience with him. He wanted the king to wait a little longer for his money. He said, “I will pay you all I owe you if you will just give me time.”
The king was not a harsh man. He thought it over. The king felt sorry for the servant even though he still owed the king money. In fact, the king decided to cancel the debt completely! The servant would no longer owe the king anything. Wow! What a good, forgiving and merciful king he was! The king didn’t make the servant pay what he really owed. Unfortunately, the servant didn’t show the same compassion and mercy to others.
The forgiven servant went out, right away, and found another servant who owed him money. He insisted that his fellow servant pay back all the money that he owed him. The second servant asked for more time to pay, just like the first servant asked the king. He begged for patience. But the first servant didn’t show mercy to him. In fact, the first servant said, Pay Up, Or Else! And when the servant couldn’t pay, he had him thrown in prison.
All of the other servants were upset when they saw what the forgiven servant had done. They went to the king and told him what had happened. The king was also upset and angry. He called the servant to come to him. The king said, “You wicked servant. I canceled all the debt you owed because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” The king was very angry. He sent his servant to prison until he could pay back all that he owed the king.
God is your King. You are God’s servant. So, how do you think He wants you to act when someone owes you money, hurts you or makes you cry? Should you act like the forgiven servant and demand retribution, payback? Or, should you be like the king who showed mercy and kindness to his servant?
Our King is kind, slow to get angry and full of love (Psalm 86:15). Think of all the wonderful things He has given to you. Sometimes you sin and do things that make Him unhappy. But He still shows you mercy. He forgives your sins and cancels your debt, just like the king in the parable, when you ask Him to.
You are God’s servant. He expects you to show the same compassion and mercy to others that has been shown to you. You must willing to forgive. Jesus even says that if you don’t show mercy to others, God might not forgive you when you sin. It is so important to show mercy to others! You certainly want God to forgive your sins. You don’t want to be like the unforgiving servant.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being merciful and compassionate to me when my actions or thoughts are wrong. Help me learn to have compassion and to show mercy to others, even when they do things wrong to me.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Sunday - Psalm 103:8-12
Monday - Matthew 18:21-35
Tuesday - Psalm 86:15
Wednesday - 1 John 3:11-24
Thursday - John 8:1-11
Friday - Luke 17:3
Saturday - Luke 6:35-38
Psalm 103:1-5
Psalm 119:176
Isaiah 1:16-20
Ezekiel 34:15-16
Jonah 3:1-10
Matthew 7:1-5
Matthew 18:12-14
Matthew 18:21-22
Luke 15:1-32
Luke 15:7
Luke 19:10
AGITATED - excited or upset feelings
ESTATE - possessions passed from father to son
FAMINE - a severe lack of food
PUBLICAN - tax collector
WHIMPERING - a low, whining cry
One morning Mark heard a sound like someone whimpering. He stepped outside and the sound got louder. Under the bushes was his dog Cocoa. She had given birth to seven puppies! Excited, Mark ran to the shed and made a soft bed for them. He carefully picked the seven little fur balls and carried then to the shed. Cocoa followed, making sure they were all safe.
Every day there were changes in the puppies. First their eyes started to open. Then they wandered a little farther from their momma every day. Soon they were rolling and playing in the yard. The puppies greeted Mark with little barks and licks when he came home from school.
One day one of the puppies was missing. Mark searched the shed. He looked all over the yard. Cocoa was agitated. She paced back and forth in a corner of the yard. Then Mark spotted it – a hole under the fence! The puppy must have crawled under the fence and wandered away.
What would you do if this happened to you? Would you look for the lost puppy. Or, would you be content with the six puppies you still had? Would you forget about the lost puppy. And, if the puppy came back in a few days, would you welcome him back? Would you be happy and celebrate? Does that mean you love that puppy more than the others? Of course not!
God feels the same way about people. He is sad when one of His children wanders away from following Him. But, He is happy and celebrates when the lost child comes back to Him. To help the Pharisees understand how much He loves people, Jesus taught the following parable.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Why would Jesus tell this parable to the Pharisees? After all, they were religious people. They seemed to strictly keep God’s laws. Didn’t they already know how God felt about people who repent? But they didn’t understand. They didn’t like Jesus to spend time with publicans and sinners. They didn’t like people who didn’t act and believe like they did.
Jesus wanted to help them understand how God feels about sinners repenting. He told a parable about a man with two sons. The younger wanted his share of his father’s estate. The father gave him his share of the money. Then the younger son left home. He went to a country far away. He wasted all his money there on foolish things. He did things he shouldn’t do. Soon he had nothing left. He couldn’t even buy food to eat.
The young man went to work on a farm, feeding pigs. He got so hungry he even wanted to eat the pigs’ food! Then he thought, “My father’s servants have plenty to eat and I’m starving. I will go back and tell my father I’m sorry.” The boy was even willing to become one of his father’s servants. He didn’t think he was worthy to be his son.
The young son headed for home. Then his father saw him coming down the road. He had been watching for a long time hoping he would return. The father ran out and hugged and kissed his son.
The boy tried to say how sorry he was for what he did. But his father told the servants to put the best robe on him. He put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. He said, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate! My son was lost but now is found.” His father was very happy.
But, the older brother wasn’t happy at all! He said he wouldn’t go to the celebration. He had always obeyed his father and worked hard. His father had never given him a party. Instead, he was having a party for his good-for-nothing brother! The father thought he would never see his young son. Now that he was home it was time to celebrate.
God is always joyful when you are truly sorry for the bad things you do. He wants you to try hard not to repeat your mistakes. Our Heavenly Father is merciful – He will forgive you when you ask Him.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving these parables so that I might know just how very special each person is to you. Thank you for your mercy in forgiving me when I ask. Please teach me how to stay close to you.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sunday - Luke 15:1-32
Monday - Matthew 18:21-22
Tuesday - Ezekiel 34:15-16
Wednesday - Matthew 7:1-5
Thursday - Jonah 3:1-10
Friday - Isaiah 1:16-20
Saturday - Psalm 103:1-5
