Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-6; James 4:7

During their vacation by the sea, Lena and her family visited an old lighthouse in the area. "What does a lighthouse do, Daddy?" asked Lena's little sister Arianna.

"It shines light far and wide, so ships out at sea are guided to a safe place to dock," Dad told her.

"Yes, but do you know what some people used to do long ago?" Mom pointed out toward the sea. "Can you see those rocks way over there? Well, sometimes men called wreckers would light their lamps and swing them over there near those rocks. The ships' captains would think that was a safe harbor, and then they'd end up on the rocks."

"That's horrible!" said Lena. "Why would anyone do that?"

"Well, after the ship crashed into the rocks, the wreckers would steal the cargo," said Mom. "Ships often carried gold in those days."

"I'm glad there are no wreckers now," said Arianna.

Lena nodded. She shuddered as she studied the sharp, cruel-looking rocks.

"Actually, we still need to watch out for wreckers," said Dad. "But I don't mean the ship-wrecking kind. Satan is a wrecker--a master wrecker. He makes evil things look attractive and appealing so we're tempted to go after them."

"Like what?" asked Lena.

"Well, how about greed?" said Dad. "While it's not wrong to be rich--in fact, the Bible says everything we have is a gift from God--Satan wants us to love money more than we love God. He wants us to be willing to do anything to get what we want, even if it means hurting others, so he may try to make having lots of money look really good to us. We need to remember that it's Jesus who satisfies our souls, not anything we own."

Mom nodded. "Pride is another thing Satan tries to disguise as good. I used to think it was good for me to try to do everything myself, but Jesus reminded me that He didn't save me from sin so I could do life on my own. I needed to depend on Him for help."

"Good example," said Dad. "Ships often got wrecked on those rocks out there, and Satan tries to lead us astray with his false lights. We need to keep our eyes on the one true light--Jesus--and trust Him to lead us to safety."

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Is Satan trying to make something bad look good to you? Remember that he is a life-wrecker. He wants to lure you away from God's truth and His path for your life. Don't let him fool you. Remember that you belong to Jesus and that He loves you and promises to help you. Let His light guide you, not the false lights of Satan.

Today's Key Verse:
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (CSB) (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Today's Key Thought:
Don't listen to Satan

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Danar was silent as he rode home from his first pencak silat competition. He had been looking forward to the Indonesian martial arts competition and had even won third place, but now he found it hard to celebrate.

His father looked at him. "You've been awfully quiet, Danar," Ayah said. "What's the matter?"

Danar sighed, then blurted out, "I gave up my free time and rode my bike really far to go cheer Budi's soccer game last week, and Ucok's mathlete the week before. They both said they were coming today, but they didn't show up. And they didn't explain why either." Danar glanced at his phone, but there were no new messages.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Danar. It hurts when people don't show up for you."

Danar crossed his arms. "Well, I'm never going to show up for them again!"

Ayah frowned. "Danar, have you heard the saying 'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind'?" Danar shook his head. "It means that trying to get back at people for the ways they hurt us doesn't help anyone, because everyone does hurtful things," Ayah said. "We all make mistakes and sin against God and one another. Each one of us would deserve revenge because everyone is guilty." Ayah turned to look at Danar. "If Jesus had followed the practice of an eye for an eye, do you think anyone would be saved?"

"No," Danar said. "We all deserve to be punished for our sins, but Jesus took the punishment for us. We learned a verse about that at church--'While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.'"

Ayah nodded. "And He tells us to forgive others when they hurt us."

"I know. I just don't understand why my friends didn't even bother to tell me they weren't coming." Danar looked dejected.

"Why don't you try to talk to them? Maybe something happened," said Ayah.

"All right." Just then, Danar's phone beeped. "Ayah, Budi just texted me, and Ucok is in the hospital! He got into a bicycle accident on his way home from the park. He was playing soccer with Budi--they must have forgotten about my competition." Danar looked at his father. "Can we go to the hospital now?"

"Sure thing." Ayah made a turn for the hospital.

-Ruth Setyadi

How About You?
Do you sometimes feel that people treat you badly? Do you wish you could get back at them? It may seem like the fair thing to do, but the Bible tells us not to seek revenge. Instead, we need to remember God's love for us and surrender our desire for revenge to Him. We're all guilty of sinning against God, but instead of punishing us for our wrongs, Jesus died for us. Trust Him to help you forgive others when they hurt you.

Today's Key Verse:
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV) (Romans 5:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Don't take revenge

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:8; 1 Corinthians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 4:10-11

"I don't understand why Miss Wong picked Melanie to sing the solo at church instead of me," said Freya as she flattened a stick of red modeling clay onto the table. "I'm the best singer in the choir, and I have a much better stage presence than Melanie." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Miss Wong says I have a natural talent for music."

"And a natural talent for bragging!" muttered Brody. Freya made a face at her brother as she started shaping the clay into a slender vase. "Don't be jealous just because I'm smarter than you." Brody sighed impatiently and left the room. Freya stood back to admire her handiwork. "I wish I could fire this vase in a kiln so it would hold water, but it will look pretty just sitting on a shelf." She smiled at her mom. "Mrs. White says I'm quite the artist."

Mom glanced at Freya's work. "Well, that blue bowl you made yesterday looks fantastic! And this red clay vase is turning out so well too. Both of those pottery pieces must be very smart and talented to be so nicely made."

"What do you mean?" asked Freya, frowning. "Things aren't smart or talented. I am--I made them. They were just sticks of clay. I'm the one responsible for the way they turned out."

"That's true," said Mom. "That's like people, isn't it? For example, you may be smart and artistic and a good singer, but who is responsible for that? Who made you that way?"

Freya looked down at the table. "God did," she mumbled at last.

"So who should receive the credit and praise?" asked Mom.

"God," Freya admitted.

Mom nodded. "God is the one who gave you your talents and abilities--and He gives them to everyone else too. They're not all the same, but they're all equally important, because they're meant to be used to bring glory to Jesus and share His love with others. We can trust Him to help us do that." Mom pointed to Freya's vase. "Just like you're carefully shaping that lump of clay into a beautiful vase, God is shaping us to be more like Jesus. So don't brag about the things you're able to do. Instead, remember they're gifts from Him and use them to serve others."

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Are you talented at certain things? Do you let others know that God is responsible for the things you do well? All your abilities and gifts were given to you by God. He gives everyone different but equally important gifts so we can use them to serve one another in love. So don't brag about the things you can do. Instead, use your gifts to show others how God is shaping you to be more like Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Who do you think you are? Everything you have was given to you…why do you act as if you got it all by your own power? (ERV) (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Don't brag

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

"This camping trip was fun," said Jack as he helped Dad pull out the stakes that held their sturdy tent in place. "But I miss Grandpa. He would have loved this."

Dad stretched out an arm and drew Jack close. "I miss him too," Dad said gently. "But he's with Jesus now."

Jack nodded. "I know. I just wish he didn't have to die."

Dad was silent as they folded up the tent. Jack patted it affectionately. "Jack," said Dad, "I know it's a little sad to be packing up our tent and leaving, but aren't you looking forward to being home again?"

"Sure," said Jack. "I miss Mom." He grinned impishly. "Believe it or not, I even miss Topher!"

Dad laughed. "Yeah, you miss teasing him!" He began rolling up the folded tent. "Jack, this camping trip may help us understand something about dying." Jack raised his eyebrows and waited for Dad to explain. "We had a fun weekend living in a tent and cooking outdoors, didn't we?" asked Dad.

Jack nodded. His eyes sparkled as he remembered their campfires and games and visits with the neighboring campers.

"The tent was a temporary home for us," continued Dad. "But now it's time to pack it up and go back to our real home. I know Mom and Topher are waiting to welcome us." He paused. "In a way, when Grandpa died, he packed up his tent too."

"Not that big green tent he always used?" Jack said.

"No, I mean his body," said Dad. "For seventy-five years, this world was a temporary home for him. But then his body got sick and died, and he went to be with Jesus. The Bible tells us our real home is with Jesus--being with Him is better than being anywhere else! And one day, Jesus will make us a new permanent home on earth, and He'll give Grandpa and every other Christian a body that will never get sick or die. Until then, Grandpa will be with Jesus in heaven."

Jack nodded. "I know he's glad to be with Jesus, even though he liked it here too." He smiled at his dad. "Just like we enjoyed camping but are glad to be going home."

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Has someone you love died? Do you ever worry about your own death? Losing our loved ones is sad, but if you trust Jesus as your Savior, you don't need to be afraid of dying. Your body is like a tent, and once it has served its purpose here on earth, it will be packed up and put away. Then you'll go home to be with Jesus, who will one day give you a new, perfect body that will last forever!

Today's Key Verse:
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down…we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself. (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Today's Key Thought:
Our permanent home is with Jesus

Bible Reading: Revelation 22:12-17

"Let's see who can find the brightest star," Garrett said to his sister one hot summer evening as they looked up at the starry sky. "The loser has to buy ice cream tomorrow."

"I don't think you can prove which one is the brightest," said Eden. But she suddenly pointed to the north. "That one's mine! That bright one up there."

Garrett squinted. "I think I see the one you mean, but I see a brighter one." He pointed in another direction. "See--right in the middle of that cluster of stars. That one's brighter than the one you found."

"How do you know that?" asked Eden. They continued searching the heavens as they argued about which star was brighter.

When Dad came out to tell them it was bedtime, Garrett and Eden told him about their competition and asked him to judge which star was brightest of all. "Okay, I'll do my best," Dad said, and they pointed out the stars they had chosen. "As judge," said Dad, "I declare that neither of those is the brightest star of all. In fact, I think the two of you should buy me ice cream because I know the brightest star personally."

"What do you mean, you know a star?" asked Eden. "We're not talking about football or movie stars, you know."

Dad laughed. "Neither am I. And I'm not talking about a star in the sky either. I'm talking about Jesus. In the last chapter of the Bible, which talks about the day He will return to earth as King, He's called the bright Morning Star. On that day, He will put an end to the darkness of sin and evil forever and fill the heavens and earth with His light, and everyone who knows Him as their Savior will reign with Him for all eternity. I'd say that's the brightest star of all, wouldn't you?"

"Okay, Dad." Garrett grinned at his father as he got up to go inside. "But no treat. You weren't in on the deal."

"And you're not the only one who knows the brightest star personally," added Eden. "We know Jesus too!"

"Well then," said Dad, "since you've both found the brightest star, how about I buy all of us ice cream tomorrow?"

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Do you know Jesus--the bright Morning Star? When He returns to earth again as King, it will be the morning of a bright, new day--a glorious day that will never end! But He wants you to know Him as your Savior and King now. He invites you to come to Him. Trust in Him today so you can look forward to a bright future with Him that will last forever. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
I am Jesus…I am the bright Morning Star. (NLV) (Revelation 22:16)

Today's Key Thought:
Know Jesus as your Savior