Bible Reading: Psalm 119:129-133

"What are you reading?" asked Dr. Trent as he entered the examination room and saw Alisha with an open book on her lap.

"It's the Bible," said Alisha.

"The Bible? Why are you reading that?" Dr. Trent asked. "With all the exciting books out there, I would think you'd find an old book like that pretty boring."

"Oh no," Alisha said. "It's not like that at all. I'm on a Bible quiz team, and our next contest is coming up, so I've been studying whenever I get a chance. I think the stories in the Bible are really interesting." She closed her Bible. "Besides, reading the Bible helps me--well--I don't know." Alisha sighed, frustrated she couldn't express what she was thinking.

"I have something for you," said Dr. Trent. He held up a new pair of glasses.

"Oh good," said Alisha as she removed her old ones. The doctor placed the new glasses on Alisha's face, checking behind her ears to see how they fit. "Wow!" Alisha said, looking around.

Dr. Trent smiled. "You didn't realize how much you were missing with your old glasses, did you?"

"No," said Alisha. "Everything is so much clearer now." As she looked around the room, she glanced at her Bible, and suddenly she had an idea. "That's why I read the Bible, Dr. Trent." The doctor raised his eyebrows. "Reading the Bible is kind of like getting glasses," Alisha explained. "It helps me see things more clearly. Actually, it's even better than glasses because the Bible helps me see things like who God is and how much He loves me--so much that Jesus died for my sins! It shows me how God wants me to live and reminds me that I can always trust Him, no matter what."

"It sounds like the Bible means a lot to you," said Dr. Trent.

Alisha nodded. "It's changed my life." She stood up to leave. "You should read it for yourself--it's better than the best glasses you've ever had!"

Dr. Trent smiled. "Maybe I'll give it a try sometime."

"I hope so," said Alisha. "You might realize how much you've been missing!"

–Bob Hostetler

How About You?
Did you know that the Bible can help you see everything in your life more clearly? Or did you think it was just an old, boring book? The Bible is alive and life-giving. It's God's message to all people, and it tells how Jesus died and rose again to save us from sin and give us eternal life. It shines the light of His truth and promises into our lives. Read it every day to help you focus on Jesus and the joy He brings to your life.

Today's Key Verse:
The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life. (NIV) (John 6:63)

Today's Key Thought:
The Bible makes everything clearer

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-19

"I didn't mean to hurt your oh-so-special skateboard, Grady!" Jared told his brother. "You don't have to get so mad!"

"I told you to leave it alone!" shouted Grady.

"Well, a skateboard is meant to jump and ride rails and stuff," said Jared. "All you do is coast down the street on it. Why don't you try out this ramp I built?"

Just then Dad came out to the garage. "Dad!" said Grady. "Jared scratched up my new skateboard. I told him not to take it on that ramp, but he did anyway, and now it's a mess!"

"I couldn't help it, Grady--I didn't fall on purpose." Jared pointed to his chest. "Besides, look what happened to my shirt when I fell off the board. There are grass stains all over it!"

Dad examined the skateboard. "Grady, why don't you get some of those decals you've been collecting and stick them on your skateboard? They should cover most of these scratches, and then the board will look great! I'll help you with it, okay?" Grady nodded, looking relieved. Then Dad turned to Jared. "Do you want some white paint to put over those stains on your shirt?"

"Paint?" Jared shook his head. "Of course not! These stains will have to be washed out--not covered up."

"I agree," said Dad. "Do you know that the wrong things you do shouldn't be covered up either? You shouldn't have used your brother's skateboard when he told you not to, but instead of accepting responsibility and apologizing for scratching it up, you made excuses. You even complained about what your stunt had done to your shirt. You were trying to cover up the wrong thing you did, weren't you?"

Jared was quiet a moment. "I guess so," he finally admitted. "I'm sorry, Grady."

"When we do wrong, we need to confess our sin to Jesus," said Dad. "And if our wrong has hurt someone else, we need to tell that person we're sorry and ask for forgiveness." Dad patted Jared's shoulder. "We'll do our best with that shirt, but it might never be quite the same again. But when we confess our sin, Jesus is ready and willing to forgive and completely wash it away."

–Lyndel F. Walker

How About You?
When you've done something wrong, do you accept responsibility? Or do you look for someone else to blame? Learn to say, "It's my fault. I'm sorry." Admit it when you've done something wrong, and ask God and others to forgive you. That's far better than making excuses or blaming others for what you've done. Jesus will always forgive you--and if you're truly sorry, others usually will too.

Today's Key Verse:
Scrub away my guilt. Wash me clean from my sin. I know I have done wrong. (ERV) (Psalm 51:2-3)

Today's Key Thought:
Accept responsibility for your actions

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2

Casey was sitting on the edge of the deck, shoving a pointy stick into the muddy spring earth, when Grandpa sat down next to him.

"Hey, buddy. You've been quiet ever since your parents dropped you off to take your little brother to the hospital. Anything you want to talk about?" Grandpa asked.

Casey thrust the stick harder into the ground, sending the sticky mud splattering onto his feet. "It's all my fault. It was my idea to race our bikes down the hill. And I was the one who teased him for not wanting to go faster. He wouldn't have broken his arm if it wasn't for me." Casey leaned into Grandpa's arm and sniffled. "I'm always doing stuff like that--teasing him and trying to get him to do things I know I shouldn't. I--I'm a horrible person!" Casey buried his face in Grandpa's chest and let his tears fall freely.

Grandpa put his arm around Casey's small shoulders. "Casey, I know you feel bad, but that doesn't mean you are bad."

Casey lifted his head and looked at Grandpa. "What do you mean?"

"When we make poor choices, we know it's sin and that we need forgiveness. But we also have to be careful not to allow shame to sneak in and tell us that we're bad. Look at that stick you're holding. It's got mud on it, but it's still a stick, right?"

"Well, yeah. Of course."

"Well, shame tries to convince the stick that it's all mud. But it's not. It just needs someone to clean the mud off."

"So if I'm like the stick, then I just need someone to wash my mud away?" A smile came to Casey's face. "You mean Jesus, right?"

"You got it," said Grandpa. "Jesus took the guilt and shame of our sin on Himself when He died on the cross. He washes us clean and makes us right with God. Because you trust in Jesus, that's who you really are--a child of God whose sins have been washed away. Shame has no place in your life. When you feel bad about something, confess your sin to Jesus and He will forgive you. He died to take your shame off you so you could enjoy a new life with Him."

–Tannis Oliveri

How About You?
Do you feel bad about something you did? Is it sticking to your heart like mud, making you feel dirty? Let Jesus wash the sticky mud of shame off you and remind you who you really are. Once you know Him as your Savior, sin and shame no longer have any claim on you. Confess what you did to Him, knowing He will always forgive you.

Today's Key Verse:
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus took your shame

Bible Reading: Galatians 6:4-10

Ava yawned as she came into the kitchen. Her brother Jayden glanced at her mischievously, then looked out the window. "Hey, Ava, how'd your bike end up on the roof of the garage?" he asked.

"What?" Ava ran to the window to see for herself. "Where?"

"April fool!" Jayden laughed in delight. "Gotcha!"

Ava grinned and gave her brother a soft punch on the arm as they sat down to eat.

At dinner, Ava and Jayden told their dad about the April Fools' jokes kids played on each other at school. "It's fun to have a day where everyone plays jokes like that," said Jayden.

"As long as no one takes the jokes too far," Dad said.

"Nobody did," Ava assured him, "and everyone was expecting it since it was April Fools' Day." She paused to take a bite of broccoli. "But then there's Louise. Today she was all smiles and sweetness to Mrs. Potter during math class but then said mean things about her at recess. Sometimes I don't know what to make of her. She says she's a Christian, but there are times when she doesn't act like one. Like she's just fooling people."

Dad frowned. "I can think of three people right here who don't always act like Christians. Let's keep that in mind. It's possible for any one of us to fool others."

"But I've seen Louise do that stuff too," said Jayden. "She acts one way around the teachers and another when they're not looking. It's hard to trust her."

Ava nodded. "It seems like there's another side to her that only some of us see."

"Well, if what you say is true, that doesn't mean she's not a Christian," said Dad. "We all struggle to do what's right in some areas of our lives. But if any one of us is trying to fool people into thinking we're Christians when we're not, there's someone who can never be fooled. God knows exactly what's in our hearts. We can't hide anything from Him, and we don't have to, because Jesus died for us so all our wrongs could be forgiven. Now, let's pray for Louise and think of ways we can show her love and support instead of talking about her."

–Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Are you trying to fool someone into thinking you're a Christian? You may fool your parents, pastor, teachers, or classmates, but you can never fool God. He knows exactly what's in your heart, and He offers you grace and forgiveness. Admit your need for a Savior and trust in Jesus 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:
Do not be fooled. You cannot fool God. (NLV) (Galatians 6:7)

Today's Key Thought:
It's impossible to fool God

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 3:18

"Rose, look what I found in the woods!" Levi approached his sister carrying a cage. Something was moving inside.

Rose shrieked. "Get that out of here!"

Levi laughed. "It's only a garden snake," he said. "It can't hurt you."

"Daddy!" Rose dashed behind her father, her eyes filled with fear. "Kill it, Daddy!"

"Don't be afraid." Dad put an arm around Rose. "What Levi says is true; garden snakes aren't poisonous. We don't kill something for no good reason."

"Why do people hate snakes?" asked Levi.

"I guess because they can look scary, or they remind us of bad things," replied Dad. "It started long ago when Satan, in the form of a snake, tempted Eve in the garden of Eden and got her and Adam to sin. These days we sometimes hear about snakes killing other animals, like chickens. And some snakes are poisonous. Their bites can cause illness or even death."

"If they'd quit biting people, maybe we'd like them better," said Rose.

"God gives most animals a built-in mechanism for protection from enemies," Dad explained. "Porcupines have quills, skunks spray, and snakes have venom."

"But most snakes aren't poisonous, are they?" asked Levi.

"No," Dad said. "Actually, they can be very helpful to people. Snakes eat mice and rats that carry germs. Hundreds of years ago, the Bubonic Plague--caused by infected fleas that lived on rats--killed a fourth of Europe's population. If there had been more snakes, the epidemic might not have been nearly as bad. And today, scientists are learning how to use snake venom to make medicine!"

"See, Rose," said Levi, "there are lots of good things about snakes."

Dad nodded. "God created everything--even snakes--to be good. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world, it messed everything up, but God promises to make it right again one day. When Jesus returns and makes everything new, there will be no more pain, sickness, or death, and we'll never be afraid of any creature ever again."

Levi and his sister studied their slithering captive in the cage. "Why don't we measure it," said Levi.

Rose hesitated. "Okay," she finally said. "I'll get a tape measure. But I won't hold its tail!"

–Janet E. Rhine

How About You?
Are there any animals or insects you're afraid of? Remember that God created each creature for a purpose--even the ones that scare you. One day, when Jesus restores creation to the way it's supposed to be, no creature will ever cause us fear or harm again. Until then, we can look for ways all creatures--even scary ones--reveal God's goodness and thank Him for His creation.

Today's Key Verse:
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. (NIV) (Genesis 1:31)

Today's Key Thought:
Every creature serves a purpose