Bible Reading: Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:16-18

"Aunt Kelly, take off your sandals!" Harriett exclaimed as she ran into the sand.

Her aunt smiled and removed her sandals before stepping into the sand. "It feels very nice on my feet."

"Let's go by the water," Harriett suggested, "I want to see how warm it is."

Aunt Kelly laughed and followed her niece. "Is it warm?" she asked as she sat down in the sand close to the water.

"Medium warm." Harriett shrugged. "I like it."

"I'm glad you could come visit and enjoy the water before it's too cold," Aunt Kelly said.

"Me too." Harriett bit her lip. "Aunt Kelly, do you remember last time I was here how you said God will forgive me when I sin?"

Aunt Kelly nodded. "I do remember that. I told you that Jesus died on the cross so you could be forgiven for the wrong things you've already done and the ones that will still happen, and you decided to trust Him as your Savior."

Harriett looked at the water for a moment. "Does He really forgive all my sins?"

Aunt Kelly smiled. "Yes, He really forgives them. Not only that, but He forgets about them."

Harriett frowned. "He does? I can't forget them--how does He forget them?"

Aunt Kelly stood up and walked over to the water's edge. "Come over here." She wrote the word sin in the sand. "See this? Let's pretend it's your sin, and the water is God." As she said that, the water washed over the word.

When the water went back, the word sin had vanished. "See?" said Aunt Kelly. "The word I wrote is gone. The water washed it away. That's how God forgives our sins. The Bible says that when we admit we've sinned and trust in Jesus for forgiveness, He will remember our sins no more--He doesn't think about them or ever hold them against us." Aunt Kelly looked at her niece. "We can look up verses that talk about God's forgiveness in your Bible if you'd like. Then we can write them down so you can go home and keep them in your room to remember that when God forgives sin, it's gone forever."

"Can we write them on pink paper?" Harriett asked.

Aunt Kelly smiled. "Pink paper sounds perfect."

–Kimberly Brokish

How About You?
Have you ever sinned and not been able to stop thinking about it, even after asking God for forgiveness? Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions [or sins] from us." That's really far! How awesome is it to know that God loves us so much that He forgives and forgets our sins? Whenever a sin is bothering you, confess it to Him, knowing He will forgive you and not think of it again.

Today's Key Verse:
Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (NKJV) (Hebrews 10:17)

Today's Key Thought:
God forgives and forgets our sins

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-25

"This has been quite a fruitful day, don't you think?" said Grandpa with a wink as they finished dinner at the close of James's first day in Arizona. James grinned. He and Grandpa had taken a trip to an orange grove, and they had come back with lots of delicious oranges.

"Since our minds are already on fruit, let's take a look at the fruit of the Spirit for devotions tonight--the spiritual qualities that come from knowing Jesus and having His Spirit in our hearts," said Grandpa. Opening his Bible, he leafed through the pages until he found the passage he was looking for. He handed the Bible to James and pointed to the verses he wanted read.

"The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control," James read. He looked at his grandparents. "That seems like a lot of fruit for one person!"

"Don't let the list scare you," said Grandpa. "All of us who trust in Jesus have this fruit in our lives, but sometimes we need to be reminded of that. Why don't we all think about the fruit listed in the passage and each pick out one we especially need to trust God to help us with?"

"Okay." James studied the list. "Mom is always telling me I need to be more patient," he said after a moment.

"And I need to depend on God to help me feel His peace in my life," said Grandma. "I tend to worry--like when you were a little late getting back from the orange grove today."

"And I need help with self-control," said Grandpa. "Now and then, I still get angry for silly reasons and need to remember that the Holy Spirit gives me the power to control my anger." He closed the Bible. "Let's pray for one another and trust God to display His fruit in our lives. And maybe before you go back home, we can talk about this again and see how God is working in us, okay?" James nodded.

"Okay then," said Grandma. "Now, who wants some oranges for dessert?"

"Me!" said James and Grandpa in unison.

–Esther M. Bailey

How About You?
Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruit in your life? When you struggle with things like worry, impatience, or anger, remember that He gives you peace and the power to show others the love of Jesus in any situation. You might also find it helpful to discuss it with a family member or a Christian friend. Help one another by praying for each other and discussing what God is doing in your lives.

Today's Key Verse:
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (NLT) (Galatians 5:22-23)

Today's Key Thought:
God gives spiritual fruit

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-25

"This has been quite a fruitful day, don't you think?" said Grandpa with a wink as they finished dinner at the close of James's first day in Arizona. James grinned. He and Grandpa had taken a trip to an orange grove, and they had come back with lots of delicious oranges.

"Since our minds are already on fruit, let's take a look at the fruit of the Spirit for devotions tonight--the spiritual qualities that come from knowing Jesus and having His Spirit in our hearts," said Grandpa. Opening his Bible, he leafed through the pages until he found the passage he was looking for. He handed the Bible to James and pointed to the verses he wanted read.

"The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control," James read. He looked at his grandparents. "That seems like a lot of fruit for one person!"

"Don't let the list scare you," said Grandpa. "All of us who trust in Jesus have this fruit in our lives, but sometimes we need to be reminded of that. Why don't we all think about the fruit listed in the passage and each pick out one we especially need to trust God to help us with?"

"Okay." James studied the list. "Mom is always telling me I need to be more patient," he said after a moment.

"And I need to depend on God to help me feel His peace in my life," said Grandma. "I tend to worry--like when you were a little late getting back from the orange grove today."

"And I need help with self-control," said Grandpa. "Now and then, I still get angry for silly reasons and need to remember that the Holy Spirit gives me the power to control my anger." He closed the Bible. "Let's pray for one another and trust God to display His fruit in our lives. And maybe before you go back home, we can talk about this again and see how God is working in us, okay?" James nodded.

"Okay then," said Grandma. "Now, who wants some oranges for dessert?"

"Me!" said James and Grandpa in unison.

–Esther M. Bailey

How About You?
Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruit in your life? When you struggle with things like worry, impatience, or anger, remember that He gives you peace and the power to show others the love of Jesus in any situation. You might also find it helpful to discuss it with a family member or a Christian friend. Help one another by praying for each other and discussing what God is doing in your lives.

Today's Key Verse:
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (NLT) (Galatians 5:22-23)

Today's Key Thought:
God gives spiritual fruit

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:8-9; Romans 3:19-24

When James woke one morning, the strangeness of his room surprised him. Then he remembered the plane ride that had brought him to Arizona to visit his grandparents. He hopped out of bed at once. It was his first trip to their new home, and he didn't want to waste time. The sun streamed through the window, promising a beautiful day.

James looked outside, and when he saw a tree with oranges hanging from the branches, he knew what he wanted to do first. He hurried to the kitchen where he found his grandmother fixing breakfast. "Grandma, can I go out and pick an orange?"

"Sure, James," said Grandma. "You can pick one, but the oranges on that tree aren't good to eat."

James went out and picked the biggest orange he could find. It looked so good that he wondered if Grandma could be mistaken. He took it to the kitchen. "This sure looks like it's good to eat."

Grandma cut a wedge out of the orange and held it out for James to taste. "I'll let you be the judge."

As his tongue touched the orange, James made a face. "Ugh! Bitter! How could anything that looks so good taste so bad?"

"It's an ornamental orange tree," Grandma explained. "It looks pretty, but it doesn't produce good fruit."

James looked up as Grandpa came in. "Want a piece of orange, Grandpa?" he asked with a grin.

Grandpa glanced at it and laughed. "No, thanks. I know where you got that." He sat down at the table. "You know, those oranges remind me of myself when I was young."

"They do?" James asked. "How?"

"I used to think I was a good person because I went to church, obeyed my parents, and tried to be nice to others. I figured that doing good things like that meant I'd go to heaven one day. But then God helped me understand the truth--that no one can earn their way to heaven by what they do. I may have looked good on the outside--like that orange does--but my heart was full of sin. I needed Jesus to save me." Grandpa grinned. "Now I know I'm going to heaven one day, not because of what I've done, but because of what Jesus has done for me."

–Esther M. Bailey

How About You?
Are you trying to be a good person? Do you go to church, act kindly toward others, and help people in need? Those are good things to do, but all the good you do on your own is like ornamental fruit--it may look good, but it won't get rid of the sin in your heart. Only Jesus can do that--He died for your sins so you could be saved. Trusting in Him is the only way to have eternal life. (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:
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. (NLT) (Isaiah 64:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus as your Savior

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:8-9; Romans 3:19-24

When James woke one morning, the strangeness of his room surprised him. Then he remembered the plane ride that had brought him to Arizona to visit his grandparents. He hopped out of bed at once. It was his first trip to their new home, and he didn't want to waste time. The sun streamed through the window, promising a beautiful day.

James looked outside, and when he saw a tree with oranges hanging from the branches, he knew what he wanted to do first. He hurried to the kitchen where he found his grandmother fixing breakfast. "Grandma, can I go out and pick an orange?"

"Sure, James," said Grandma. "You can pick one, but the oranges on that tree aren't good to eat."

James went out and picked the biggest orange he could find. It looked so good that he wondered if Grandma could be mistaken. He took it to the kitchen. "This sure looks like it's good to eat."

Grandma cut a wedge out of the orange and held it out for James to taste. "I'll let you be the judge."

As his tongue touched the orange, James made a face. "Ugh! Bitter! How could anything that looks so good taste so bad?"

"It's an ornamental orange tree," Grandma explained. "It looks pretty, but it doesn't produce good fruit."

James looked up as Grandpa came in. "Want a piece of orange, Grandpa?" he asked with a grin.

Grandpa glanced at it and laughed. "No, thanks. I know where you got that." He sat down at the table. "You know, those oranges remind me of myself when I was young."

"They do?" James asked. "How?"

"I used to think I was a good person because I went to church, obeyed my parents, and tried to be nice to others. I figured that doing good things like that meant I'd go to heaven one day. But then God helped me understand the truth--that no one can earn their way to heaven by what they do. I may have looked good on the outside--like that orange does--but my heart was full of sin. I needed Jesus to save me." Grandpa grinned. "Now I know I'm going to heaven one day, not because of what I've done, but because of what Jesus has done for me."

–Esther M. Bailey

How About You?
Are you trying to be a good person? Do you go to church, act kindly toward others, and help people in need? Those are good things to do, but all the good you do on your own is like ornamental fruit--it may look good, but it won't get rid of the sin in your heart. Only Jesus can do that--He died for your sins so you could be saved. Trusting in Him is the only way to have eternal life. (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:
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. (NLT) (Isaiah 64:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus as your Savior