Bible Reading: Mark 2:1-12

Jackson stood in the backyard, looking up at the roof of his house. It was a busy place. A remodeling crew climbed up and down ladders, working on the rectangular-shaped hole in the roof. "Having a skylight will really brighten up our dark kitchen," said Dad as he joined him.

"This reminds me of a Bible story we learned about in church last week," Jackson said as he watched the workers carefully lifting the window. "It was about four men who brought their sick friend to Jesus. They cut a hole in the roof and let him down through it to where Jesus was."

Dad nodded. "I know the story. There was such a crowd around the house that they couldn't get the paralyzed man in through the door."

"Even with power tools, it's a big job to cut a hole in the roof," said Jackson, standing back to watch the men work. "My teacher said that in Bible times, roofs would have been flatter with stairs going to the top." After a moment, Jackson sighed. "Anyway, the story made me kind of sad. Cole and I talked about how we wish we could be like those men and take Evan to Jesus to be healed."

Dad gave him a sad smile. "You can do that in prayer," he replied.

"We have, but Evan still has cancer," said Jackson. "Doesn't Jesus heal anymore?"

"Yes, Jesus still heals," Dad assured him. "Sometimes He uses doctors to do that; other times He heals with a miracle. But sometimes--like with your grandmother--He brings the person to be in His presence in heaven, fully and forever, where there is no sickness."

Jackson wasn't satisfied. "But is there anything Cole and I can do to help Evan besides pray?"

"Visit him whenever you can," replied Dad. "And tell him about things like the skylight and what's going on at school and church. If I were sick, it would make me feel better just to know I had friends who would gladly put me on a stretcher, carry me up to the roof, and cut a hole to get me to Jesus. Let Evan know that since you can't do that, you'll keep on taking him to Jesus in your prayers."

–Ruth McQuilkin

How About You?
Do you have a friend or relative who is very ill? Do you feel like there's nothing you can do to help? You can pray for that person, trusting God to work in the best possible way. Jesus is with us when we're hurting, and He listens to our prayers. You can also encourage that person by sending cards or messages and visiting them. Do what you can to let them know you care--and that Jesus does too.

Today's Key Verse:
Comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (NKJV) (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Today's Key Thought:
Comfort those who are sick

Bible Reading: John 1:9-13; Acts 2:36-39; Romans 10:13

Damon leaned back in his chair and started whistling.

"Done with your math already?" Mom asked.

"Yep. I'm the fastest fourth grader in this school!"

Mom laughed. "You're the only fourth grader. I know it's time for your break, but could you play with Letty for a little bit while I make lunch?"

Damon nodded and sat down on the living room floor. Letty set her coloring book aside and sat down next to him. Damon took some fence from Letty's toy barn and made a fenced area. He had already built some block houses while playing with Letty that morning. He found a farmer and construction worker and put them inside the town's walls.

Damon took the construction worker and said in a deep voice, "This is the best town I've ever made. We need more people for my town."

Letty picked up the farmer and pushed the construction worker aside. "It's not your town. It's mine. And there's not enough room for you here."

Damon jumped his construction worker up on a wall. "What? I put the walls up and made the houses and I even put you here, Miss Farmer. What do you mean?"

Letty turned the farmer's back to Damon's construction worker and said, "I'm sorry, but you have to leave."

Mom stood in the doorway and said, "This reminds me of what we read in the Bible this morning."

Damon got up from the floor. "You mean the part about Jesus coming to His own people and they wouldn't receive Him, even though He made them and the whole world?"

"Yes," Mom answered. "They didn't believe Jesus was who He said He was. But after Jesus died on the cross and rose again, His disciples convinced them that Jesus was both Lord over everything and the one sent to save them. When they realized they'd rejected the Son of God, some of them asked for forgiveness and trusted Jesus to save them."

Letty's little farmer drove her tractor through a fence. "Can you help me, Damon?" she pleaded. "It's broken!"

As Damon put the fence back up, Mom said, "At least she knows who to call for help."

–Laura Roesler

How About You?
Do you know that Jesus made you and the whole world? The Bible says that all things were made by God through Jesus. He has power over everything, yet Jesus became human and died for our sins so we could be saved. Have you trusted Him as your Lord and Savior? The Bible says that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord and receives Jesus as their Savior becomes a child of God. (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:
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. (NKJV) (John 1:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus as Lord and Savior

Bible Reading: Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 4:20–5:2

"Isaac, I need you to go to Aunt Jane's house and give her this book. She needs it for her class tonight."

Isaac groaned. He used to like walking to Aunt Jane's house. But now mean Mr. Tindall spent a lot of time in his yard, and he always scowled at Isaac. And recently a new family moved into the neighborhood, and they had a gigantic, growly dog. Isaac usually liked dogs--but not this one.

Mom seemed to sense Isaac's thoughts and looked out the window. "No dogs in sight, Isaac. And give Mr. Tindall a chance."

Isaac took the book and started up the sidewalk, but sure enough, the growly dog bounded down the driveway. Isaac took off as quickly as he could.

"What's wrong, Isaac?" Aunt Jane asked when he shot through the door.

"That--that--dog!" Isaac could hardly breathe. "He's mean!"

"That's Riley," said Aunt Jane. "He just looks mean. Wait! I have an idea." She went to the kitchen and came back with a handful of dog biscuits. "Here, take some dog biscuits, and when Riley runs out, throw them to him!"

Isaac took the biscuits and headed home. Sure enough, the growly dog came running down the driveway. "Here, Riley," Isaac called and tossed him the biscuits. Riley happily chomped away and Isaac hurried the rest of the way home, not even noticing Mr. Tindall's scowl as he walked by.

"Everything go okay?" Mom asked Isaac when he got home.

"I guess," said Isaac. "I gave Riley some dog biscuits, so he wasn't growly."

"Hmm," said Mom. "Maybe you should try that with Mr. Tindall."

"Throw Mr. Tindall dog biscuits?" Isaac asked. "Oh, wait--you mean that maybe if I did something nice for Mr. Tindall, he wouldn't scowl at me anymore."

"Exactly," said Mom. "But even if it didn't stop him from scowling, you'd be showing him the love of Jesus. He tells us to be kind to others even when they're not kind to us because He showed us that kind of love by dying for our sins when we were His enemies."

The next day, Isaac went back to Aunt Jane's to get the book. But before he went, he grabbed another handful of dog biscuits--and in the other hand he carefully carried a plate of cookies for Mr. Tindall.

–Linda Weddle

How About You?
Do you avoid certain people because you think they're mean? Have you tried showing them kindness instead? Even if they're not nice back to you right away--or ever--God says to show kindness toward everyone because He showed kindness to you by sending Jesus to die for your sins. Show kindness to others and ask God to use it to touch their hearts.

Today's Key Verse:
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV) (Ephesians 4:32)

Today's Key Thought:
Show kindness to others

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-3

"What do you think, Lyle? Do you want to go shopping for a new shell? Looks like you're about to grow out of the one you're in," Bryce said to his hermit crab.

"Bryce, are you ready?" Mom called.

"Coming," Bryce answered as he grabbed his hermit crab cage. "Let's go, Lyle!"

In the car, Bryce said, "It sure is interesting how hermit crabs move out of their old shell into a new one as they grow. It's kind of like moving into a new house."

"I guess it is," said Mom.

When they got to the pet store, the owner greeted them. "What can I help you with today?" he asked.

Bryce placed the cage on the counter. "Lyle needs a bigger shell."

"Well, I think I can help you with that. Bring Lyle over here and let's see what size shell he needs."

There were lots of shells to choose from, and Bryce looked them over carefully. "I think Lyle would like this one," he said as he handed the owner a pretty gray and white one.

Once they were back in the car, Bryce put the new shell in Lyle's cage. "How long do you think it will take him to find his new shell and move in?"

"I bet he'll be moved in by the end of the day," Mom said.

Mom was right. It wasn't long before Lyle had moved into his new shell, and Bryce eagerly showed his dad that evening.

"Hermit crabs are cool that way, aren't they?" Dad said as he admired Lyle's new shell. "As they grow, they move from one shell to another. That reminds me of our Christian walk. We don't just grow physically--once we become Christians, we grow spiritually too. The Lord doesn't want us to stay like little babies. He wants us to grow and mature in our spiritual walk with Him."

Dad took a Bible and opened it to 1 Peter 2:2. "Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation," he read.

"What is pure spiritual milk?" asked Bryce.

"The truth and promises of God," Dad replied. "As we get to know Jesus better, we learn to trust Him more and more, and He will help us grow in our relationship with Him."

–Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Are you maturing in your walk with the Lord? Jesus doesn't want us to stay like little babies in our walk with Him. He wants us to grow in our faith, trust, and knowledge of Him so we can share His truth with others. As we learn about Him in the Bible and spend time with Him in prayer, He helps us grow in our understanding of who He is and what He's done for us.

Today's Key Verse:
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NLT) (2 Peter 3:18 )

Today's Key Thought:
Grow in your relationship with Jesus

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:9-12; 2 Timothy 2:22

Mason got off the bus and started walking home. He was joined by Zachary and Gavin, two high school students who lived on farms adjoining his. "Hey, Gavin," said Zachary as they walked along a field of watermelons, "let's get a couple of those."

"I don't know," Gavin said. "Last time we took one, Mr. Sloan caught us and said he'd report us if we did it again."

"Yeah, but these are those little ones they call personal melons," said Zachary. "They're small enough to hide in our backpacks." He grinned. "Mason can be our watchdog. How about it, Mason?"

Mason hesitated. "I--I can't do that. I'd be as guilty as you."

"Nah. We'll be the ones getting the melons," said Zachary. "We'll get you one too. I'll even put it in your backpack. You won't have to touch it--until you eat it, that is!"

Those watermelons sure look good, thought Mason. But he knew it would be wrong--it would be stealing--and suddenly he made up his mind. "No," he said, then he turned and ran.

Mason hadn't gone far down the road when a car stopped next to him. It was Dad! He quickly jumped into the car.

"You seem to be in a rush to get home," said Dad.

"No, not really," replied Mason. "I was just running from a watermelon."

"Interesting," said Dad. "I've never seen a watermelon chase anybody."

Mason told him the whole story. "For a few minutes, I was really tempted. But I knew it would be wrong, so I ran."

"Good for you!" said Dad. "If you hang around temptation, you just might give in to it. It's best to run. And you're in good company too. The apostle Paul told Timothy to run from something--twice! In one instance, he warned against the love of money. Another time he told Timothy to 'flee from youthful passions,' or wrong desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace--good desires that the Holy Spirit gives us. Because He lives in those who trust in Jesus, we can always resist temptation and choose what's good instead. So you did exactly the right thing." Dad motioned toward the back seat. "Now take a look at what I just picked up at the store."

Mason turned. "A watermelon!" he shouted with glee.

–Vera M. Hutchcroft

How About You?
What do you do when you're tempted to do something wrong? Do you try to think of all the reasons why it might be okay for you to do it just this once? Don't kid yourself! If it's wrong, it's never okay--not even once. When you're tempted, remember that you belong to Jesus and that the Holy Spirit gives you the strength to do what's right. Then run--get away from the tempting situation.

Today's Key Verse:
Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. (CSB) (2 Timothy 2:22 )

Today's Key Thought:
Run from temptation