Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 4:12-16

Malik was having a difficult day. While he was in the locker room, he overheard some boys laughing because he had been friendly to a new student who was very awkward. Then at lunchtime, some other boys told him Christians weren't allowed to sit at their table. The way they said "Christians" made it sound like something bad.

In math class, something good finally happened. Mrs. Brown announced that the regional math competition would be held the next week. "The students who will represent our school are Amy, Rita, Byron, and Malik," she said. "They'll be staying at the Grand Hotel while they're at the competition. The winning team will get a trophy and go to the state competition next month."

"Wow! That's a cool place to stay. It's got a huge swimming pool and really fancy rooms," said one of the students. "I wish I could go!"

"Well, I can assure you that earning the right to go to the math competition was not easy," said Mrs. Brown. "These students have shown that they're willing to put in the necessary effort to get ready for the competition and do well in it."

When Malik arrived home, he told his mom about his day. "Some of the kids are jealous because I get to go to the competition," he said with a grin. Then he sighed. "But other kids still make fun of me for being a Christian."

Mom looked at him. "Tell me--did you always feel like studying your math?"

Malik shook his head. "Of course not."

"But you studied because you had your mind set on going to the math competition. Now your efforts are being rewarded." Mom smiled. "As Christians, we will one day be rewarded too. You earned your place in the math competition, but there's nothing any of us could do to earn our place in heaven. Jesus earned it for us by dying for our sins so we could enjoy the reward of eternal life with Him. But the Bible warns us that the Christian life isn't easy--we'll experience hardship in our lives just like Jesus did. But we can persevere as we keep our focus on Him, knowing our reward will be greater than anything we can imagine."

–Sam L. Sullivan

How About You?
Do other kids make fun of you for being a Christian? The Bible tells us that even though following Jesus isn't easy, we can rejoice when we suffer for Jesus because it shows that we belong to Him and will share in the eternal reward He earned for us on the cross. Look to Him for the strength you need to persevere, knowing that He is with you and that your reward will be great.

Today's Key Verse:
[Jesus said,] "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." (NIV) (Matthew 5:11)

Today's Key Thought:
Christians will be rewarded

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:7; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:9

"Cupcake, where have you been? You're filthy!" Jenny said to her puppy. Cupcake was covered in mud and sticktights. Jenny scooped him up and took him straight to the bathtub. "Time to get you clean."

Jenny put lots of puppy shampoo on Cupcake and scrubbed and scrubbed. After the bath, she brushed his fur and removed all the sticktights. "Now, don't do that again," Jenny said as she cuddled her puppy.

"Mom, look at all the sticktights I got out of Cupcake's fur. He was covered in mud too. Boy, was he a mess!"

"He sure looks clean now. His fur looks as white as snow. You did a good job cleaning him up." Mom grinned. "I think you might need a bath now though."

Jenny looked down at her wet clothes and laughed. "I think I do."

Mom was in the kitchen getting lunch ready when Jenny walked in after her bath. "Boy, that feels better. When Cupcake gets dirty, he makes me dirty too!"

As they ate their lunch on the back deck, Jenny asked her mom some questions about what she had learned in Sunday school that week. "Mrs. Nelson taught a Bible lesson on sin and salvation, but I didn't completely understand all that she was talking about," Jenny said.

"Well," said Mom, "just like Cupcake needed the mud and sticktights cleaned off him today, we need to be cleaned of sin. Cupcake couldn't clean himself--he needed you to give him a bath and remove the burrs from his fur. What would have happened if you hadn't cleaned him up?"

"He would still be dirty--and miserable!" Jenny replied. "He'd be getting poked by the sticktights stuck in his fur."

Mom nodded. "Our sin does the same thing--it brings pain and sorrow into the world and separates us from God, and it eventually leads to eternal death. Romans 6:23 tells us, 'For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.' God offers us the free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus, who paid the price for our sins on the cross. When we trust Him as our Savior, He removes our sin and makes us clean so we can live with Him forever."

–Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Do you know God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins? When you admit that you're a sinner and trust in Jesus, He forgives your sins and makes you clean. It's that simple! You can receive the free gift of salvation and eternal life today. (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:
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (NLT) (John 3:16)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus makes us clean

Bible Reading: Matthew 13:1-11, 18-23

"I can't sleep in my room!" cried four-year-old Jonah as he climbed into bed with his brother Jacob. "The mean bear will eat me!"

"That was just a story," Jacob tried to explain. "I made that up."

Jonah got under the covers and snuggled up to Jacob. "I'm scared."

Dad walked into Jacob's bedroom and sat down on the bed next to the two boys. "Jacob, did you tell your brother another one of your wild tales?"

Jacob nodded and grinned. "It was one of my best stories. There's this five-headed snake who teams up with this bear who has a head like a wild boar with footlong fangs and claws in the shape of knives. They go around looking for kids to eat, but my superhero is bigger than both of them. He can fly, and he has these spears for arms and--"

"You have a fantastic imagination," Dad interrupted with a smile. "Stories are important. They can teach us about life. But I think your story taught your brother to be afraid." Jonah crawled into Dad's lap.

"I love making up stories," said Jacob. "I've even been writing them down."

"That's wonderful, Jacob. Storytelling is a gift God has given you. Still, you should consider your audience next time."

"I will." Jacob looked at his brother. "Sorry for scaring you, Jonah."

Dad put his hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Did you know that Jesus was a storyteller too?"

"Really?"

"Jesus told stories, or parables, like you do. His stories taught truth about God and His kingdom to the disciples and other people who came to hear Jesus teach. Jesus told stories about things that the people in His day were familiar with, like sheep, farming, weddings, and fig trees. His stories helped them--and us today--understand the truth about Jesus and the kingdom we become part of when we trust Him to save us from sin."

Jacob looked at Jonah. His little brother held his favorite blue car close to his chest. "I could make up a story about a magic blue car for Jonah. He'd like that!"

"He sure would," Dad said as he carried a sleepy Jonah back to his bed.

–Bonnie Carr

How About You?
Did you know that one way Jesus explained God's truth to people was through storytelling? In fact, everything written in the Bible is God's truth--it contains the parables Jesus told that show us what God's kingdom is like, and it has many other stories about what God has done throughout history and how He has worked in people's lives. As we read and listen to God's Word, He will use it to teach us the truth He wants us to know.

Today's Key Verse:
I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world. (NLT) (Matthew 13:35)

Today's Key Thought:
Listen to the stories Jesus tells

Bible Reading: Exodus 17:8-15

"That was a great movie!" Braedon said as he turned off the TV. "But the way people fought wars long ago sure was different than now."

Colton nodded. "When that whole troop of knights on horses came charging down the hill, it threw the enemy into total chaos!"

"Yeah, but there's something I don't get. Why did that king ride out in front waving a big flag?" asked Braedon. "It's almost as if he were wearing a sign that said, 'Hit me!'"

"Actually, it was a banner--a rallying point for the king's troops," explained Dad, who had watched the movie with the boys. "Seeing that their leader was with them, fighting the enemy, gave the whole army courage in the face of attack."

"So instead of making the king a target for the enemy, the banner was more like an 'I am with you!' sign for the troops?" asked Colton.

"Right," said Dad. "Just this week I needed that kind of encouragement myself--and do you know where I got it? From the Bible."

"You did?" asked Colton.

Dad nodded. "I was totally overwhelmed with the work I had to do this week," he explained. "Then I read about the victory God gave Israel over the Amalekites. Afterward, Moses built an altar to God and named it 'The Lord Is My Banner.' So in my mind, I imagined God leading me like a banner, giving me encouragement and strength for what I had to do."

"Did it work?" asked Braedon. "Did it make the tough stuff disappear?"

"It didn't make everything easy," said Dad. "I still had to work long hours, but God gave me the energy I needed." He smiled. "When I focused on God's promises, it was like He was waving a banner, reminding me that He was with me. I remembered that Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross so that I could have a relationship with Him forever, and that means I never have to face anything alone. I can always trust Him to help me and give me strength. God didn't make the battle go away, but He promised to be with me through it."

"Wow," said Braedon. "The next time I face something hard--like exams or teasing--I'll remember that Jesus is my banner too!"

–Lore Wolif

How About You?
What tough things do you have to face? Do you feel like God isn't interested in your problems? He is. Jesus died and rose again so you could have a relationship with Him forever--one that starts now and stretches into eternity. He promises to be with you through everything you face. Trust Him to help you with difficult assignments, comfort you when you feel sad, and show you how to respond to people. He'll be a banner for you just like He was for Moses.

Today's Key Verse:
Moses built an altar and named it, "The Lord Is My Banner." (CSB) (Exodus 17:15)

Today's Key Thought:
God is your banner

Bible Reading: John 15:12; Galatians 6:9-10

In the pouring rain, Millie and her mom ran into the post office to check their mail. They didn't have a mailbox at their home--they rented a box from the post office.

"I'm soaked! Just another thing to add to my horrible day," Mrs. Snyder, Millie and mom's post office box neighbor, grumbled as she checked her mail.

"I'm sorry you're having a rough day, Mrs. Snyder. Would you like to borrow my umbrella?" Millie asked.

Mrs. Snyder shook her head. "I'm already soaked, so I'll just make a run for it."

"See you tomorrow!" Millie called as Mrs. Snyder dashed back out into the rain.

"Why is Mrs. Snyder always so unhappy?" Millie asked her mom when they got back in their car.

"I'm not really sure, Millie, but we can pray for her and continue to be kind to her."

When they arrived home, Millie ran to her room to make Mrs. Snyder a card. It wasn't a birthday, Christmas, or Easter card--it was just an encouragement card that Millie hoped would help Mrs. Snyder have a better day. Inside she wrote, A field full of sunflowers to brighten your day! Your post office box neighbor, Millie. Then she drew a picture of the sun shining on a field of sunflowers.

During dinner that night, Millie told her dad about the encounter with Mrs. Snyder. "I think you were letting Jesus's love shine through you today," Dad told her. "You could have ignored Mrs. Snyder or grumbled back at her, but you chose to be kind. The Bible reminds us that whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone. Because Jesus loves us, we can show His love and kindness to others."

After dinner, Mom helped Millie address the card to Mrs. Snyder, and they mailed it on the way to school the next morning.

A few days later, Millie and Mom were checking their box for mail when Mrs. Snyder walked in with a big smile on her face. "Millie, I got your card. Thank you for thinking of me. Those sunflowers made me smile."

Millie grinned at her mom as they walked out of the post office. "Thank you for helping me mail that card, Mom. I'm going to keep praying for Mrs. Snyder every day."

–Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Did you know that just a little act of kindness can show someone the love of Jesus? The Bible reminds us that we are representatives of the Lord, so when we show kindness to someone, Jesus's love shines through us. Because He has shown His love to us, we can show it to others. So put a smile on someone's face today and shine the light of Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (NLT) (Colossians 3:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Show kindness to others