Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Natalie dropped her backpack on the floor with a loud thud. "I can't believe Dominick!" she exclaimed. "You remember how I told you I couldn't find my calculator yesterday?" she asked her mom. "Well, it turns out Dominick stole it! Miss Patel saw it sticking out of his backpack, and he admitted he took it off my desk when I wasn't looking." Natalie sat down heavily on a kitchen chair, making it squeak. "What's wrong with him? He says he's a Christian, but he sure doesn't act like it sometimes!"

"I'm sorry to hear he stole your calculator," Mom said. "Did you talk to him about it?"

"Yeah, and he said he was sorry," Natalie replied. "But he's done things like this before. I just don't understand why he would want to steal something that doesn't belong to him."

"Well, I'm glad you're not tempted to steal other people's things," Mom said. "But remember, the things that tempt you probably don't tempt him."

"What do you mean?" Natalie asked.

"Remember when Dad went fishing for bluegills last week?" asked Mom. "Do you remember what kind of bait he used?"

Natalie made a face. "Yeah--it was those gross red worms. Dad says bluegills like them, but if I were a bluegill, I'm sure I'd rather have a nice little minnow. I'd rather eat a fish than a worm any day!"

Mom laughed. "But the bluegills wouldn't, and that's my point exactly. Different fish are attracted to different bait. A good fisherman knows the right bait to use." She paused. "In that sense, Satan is a good fisherman, because people are like that too. Something that tempts one person may not tempt another, but we're all tempted by something. We need to be aware of what Satan might use as bait to get us to sin. Dominick seems to be tempted to steal, which doesn't appeal to you, but you sometimes say very unkind things to your brother when he does something that bothers you."

Natalie blushed. "You're right. I guess I'm tempted by different bait than Dominick is."

"We're all tempted by different things," Mom said. "But Jesus promises to forgive all our sins and help us resist temptation. And we need to forgive and help each other too."

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
What temptations do you struggle with? Cheating? Gossiping? Disobeying your parents? We might not all go after the same bait, but we all struggle with sin in some way and do things that are wrong. If you know Jesus, He forgives your sin and gives you the power to resist temptation. Trust Him to help you do that, and show the same grace to those whose struggles are different from yours.

Today's Key Verse:
Be alert…Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him. (NIV) (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Today's Key Thought:
Resist temptation

Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15

"Yuck!" Haven watched her mom dump water from their carpet cleaner into the large sink in their mud room. "That's disgusting! Was all that dirt really in our carpet?"

Mom nodded. "It was," she said. "I'm going to go over the carpet as many times as I need to until the water is clean." Mom turned and headed back out to the living room.

Haven watched her mom from a distance as she worked on all the carpets in their home, then she hurried after her when it was time to dump the water.

"What do you think?" Mom asked. "Is it going to be dirty or clean?"

Haven wrinkled her nose. "I'm guessing dirty."

Mom laughed. "I'm thinking it will still be a little dirty too." She lifted the bucket of water and dumped it out. It wasn't as dark as the water before it had been, but it was still a little dirty. "Time to run over it all again," Mom said. "While I do, I want you to think about something."

"What?" Haven's forehead wrinkled.

"I want you to think about the song we sing in church about how Jesus's blood makes us clean," Mom said. "Can you do that?"

Haven nodded. "I could even sing it."

"You do that," Mom said. "Sing it loud so I can hear."

Haven sang while her mom ran the carpet cleaner through their house again, only stopping when it was time to dump the water.

"Ready?" Mom asked. Haven nodded. Mom dumped the water, and Haven's eyes grew wide. "It's so clear! So clean!"

"It is," Mom said. "That must mean the carpet is clean now, huh?"

Haven nodded. "You did a really good job."

"Thanks." Mom smiled. "And just like that song you were singing says, Jesus died to make us clean. We were dirty like that first bucket of water, but when we put our faith in Him, He washed away our sin and made us clean."

"His blood makes us go from dirty to clean." Haven nodded. "Like you just made the carpet go from dirty to clean."

"Right," said Mom. "But unlike cleaning carpets, which took several washes to get clean, Jesus forgives our sin and makes us pure before God the moment we trust in Him!"

-Emily Acker

How About You?
Do you ever feel dirty--like the bad things you do make you far away from God? Have you turned to Jesus for forgiveness? He wants to remove the guilt of your sin and make you perfectly clean! He shed His blood when He died on the cross so you could be forgiven and be made pure. Trust in Him today! (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (NKJV) (Ephesians 1:7)

Today's Key Thought:
You can be clean

Bible Reading: John 17:17; Acts 10:43; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Jonah put his school books down and sat at the kitchen table. He sighed, remembering a conversation he had at school that afternoon.

"Ram thinks the stories in the Bible--like Jesus healing people and doing other amazing things--are just made-up," he told his mother. "Same as other fairy tales, like Hansel and Gretel and Snow White. He thinks all cultures have made-up stories."

Mom poured him a glass of milk. "Is that what you believe?" she asked.

Jonah thought for a moment. "No, I don't think those stories are made-up, but Ram told me a story from India that sounded like a fairy tale. He told me about Lord Vishnu and this serpent who lives forever, or something like that."

"All cultures do have their stories, but the Bible is true, and it's for everybody everywhere," said Mom.

"How do you know?" asked Jonah.

"Because the Bible is God's Word, given to us from the one true God. Even though the Bible has lots of parts and was written over 1500 years by many people, it is all one story about our Savior--Jesus, the Son of God, who died and rose again to save us from our sins."

"But what do I say to Ram when he claims the Bible isn't true?"

Jonah's mom sat at the table beside him. "For one thing, you can explain that there were eyewitnesses to the things Jesus did. The disciples saw Jesus teach, heal, walk on water, and feed thousands, and they wrote about it. They were there when He was killed, buried, and raised back to life. They saw the truth with their own eyes, and they defended that truth to the death. After Jesus went back to heaven, the disciples spent their lives telling people about Him, and many of them were killed for it."

"Wow! They must have really wanted others to know what they had seen Jesus do." Jonah checked his watch. "Ram and I are meeting at the skate park. I'll tell him what you said about eyewitnesses."

"Great idea," said Mom.

Jonah took his helmet off the wall hook. "Maybe I'll ask Ram if he wants to come to youth group sometime. Then he can hear all about Jesus and know the real story!"

-Bonnie Carr

How About You?
Do you ever wonder if the Bible is true? Have people told you that the stories it tells about Jesus didn't actually happen? The Bible was given to us by God, written by those He chose and inspired. Every word in the Bible points us to Jesus, the One who saves all who put their trust in Him. The Bible is His story, and it is true.

Today's Key Verse:
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (CSB) (John 20:31)

Today's Key Thought:
The Bible is true

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:13; James 4:11-12

"Mom, what are we having for dinner?" Clara tapped her pencil against the table.

Mom turned around from stirring the big pot on the stove. "Venison and veggie stew. Do you need any help with your homework?"

"I can't focus," Clara said with a groan. She scowled. "I keep thinking about what Emerson said to me."

Mom sighed and headed over to the table. "Clara, your brother apologized and received a punishment--days ago. Why are you stewing over this?"

"Huh? Stewing?" asked Clara. "We haven't even eaten the stew!"

Mom laughed. "No, it's a homonym. Like what you're working on in school." She tapped Clara's paper. "Like a dog's bark and a tree's bark? Stew has more than one meaning. Sometimes, it can mean you're thinking about something with agitation or resentment--you're dwelling on it."

"Kind of like our food stew has been in the pot for hours?" asked Clara. "And I've been dwelling on what Emerson said for days?"

Mom nodded. "Here's a question for you, Clara. What has your stewing done for you?"

"I guess it's made me more upset…and a little distracted," Clara admitted thoughtfully.

"When we choose to focus on forgiveness and allow God to be the Judge, it softens our hearts and gives us freedom." Mom drew a heart on Clara's paper.

"Even if the person who did something wrong doesn't deserve it?" Clara asked.

Mom looked into Clara's eyes. "We didn't deserve Jesus's forgiveness, and yet He died on the cross for us. When I start dwelling on what someone did, I talk with Jesus and think about what He did for us. I remember the kindness and compassion He has for me and the person who hurt me. And that allows me to forgive."

Clara sighed. "It's hard sometimes, but you're right. I'm making 'ew stew' in my mind and heart, and I would rather be brewing something yummy."

"Like coffee?" Mom winked.

"Oooh, yes, with extra sweet creamer!" Clara giggled. "Kindness and forgiveness coffee."

Mom handed Clara an empty coffee cup. "Yum! I'll take some of that, please!"

-Savannah Coleman

How About You?
Have you ever had a hard time forgiving someone? When we find ourselves in this situation, we can remember the forgiveness God shows us through His Son, Jesus. Forgiveness means releasing your desire for revenge and giving it over to Jesus, the good Judge who will one day take care of every wrong. If you have asked Him to be your Savior, you have His power to help you forgive.* *If someone has hurt you and you're not sure how to stay safe and show forgiveness, talk to a trusted adult.

Today's Key Verse:
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV) (Ephesians 4:32)

Today's Key Thought:
Forgive others as Christ forgave you

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3

Jen was almost at the end of her cross-country race, and she was exhausted. She had run over a mile along steep trails going up and down through the forest. But as she reached the top of the final hill in the final stretch of the race, she heard someone cheering on the sidelines.

"You can do it, Jen!" Jen's dad waved at her. "You're almost there!" Even though Jen was tired, she ran a little faster across the finish line.

"You did a great job out there," Dad said as he handed her a bottle of water.

"I don't think so," Jen puffed, short of breath. "I didn't win. I nearly got last place!"

"But you finished your first cross country race!" Dad exclaimed. "You made it to the end. I'm proud of you for persevering and not giving up, even when it was hard."

"Thanks." Jen smiled. "It really helped when I saw you cheering me on at the end."

Jen and her dad sat down together on the sidelines to watch the older kids crossing the finish line.

"Did you know that the Bible says life is like a race?" Dad asked.

"If it is, I don't think I'll win." Jen took another gulp of water. "I'm not very good at running."

"It doesn't matter if you're a good runner," Dad said. "And it doesn't matter how fast, strong, smart, or old you are. We win the race by persevering in trusting and following Jesus, even when life is hard. When you were tired, how did you keep going?"

Jen smiled. "I heard you cheering me on, and I remembered you were waiting for me at the finish line."

"Well, as we run the race of life, Jesus is with us the whole time, cheering us on--and there are lots of other Christians who cheer us on and help us stay strong in our faith," Dad said. "And when we finally cross the finish line, Jesus will be there, and we'll see Him face-to-face. When we focus on Jesus and remember that He will be waiting for us at the end of our race, that can help us persevere."

Jen nodded. "That's encouraging to remember."

"So do you think you'll run more races?" asked Dad.

"Maybe," said Jen. "I'd better get practicing!"

-Abby Ciona

How About You?
Do you ever want to give up when you face challenges? If you're a Christian, Jesus gives you strength and helps you in hard times, and He provides encouragement and help through other Christians too. You can persevere by fixing your eyes on Jesus and finding strength in Him. He is with you now, and He'll also be waiting at the finish line of life.

Today's Key Verse:
Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith…let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (NLT) (Hebrews 12:1 )

Today's Key Thought:
Run the race for Jesus