Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, do you know how many people there are on earth?" asked Mary one afternoon.

"Oh, I've heard the number," replied Mom, "but I don't remember right now. Billions, I guess -- and you know, honey, God loves each one!"

"I know, but God made so many people that you'd think He'd forget who's who," said Mary. "Take me, for example. There are lots of girls in the world with brown hair and brown eyes named Mary.  There are even two in my class! So how does God know which one's me -- the one who's hoping for a new bike for her birthday?"

Mother laughed. "Don't worry, honey," she said.á "God can tell everyone apart. He knows you want that bike, and He knows whether or not it would be good for you to have it." She picked up her sweater. "My cake-baking contest is today," she said, "and I'm ready to leave. Want to come along?" Mary nodded, and they were soon on their way to the school gym.

At the gym, Mary looked in amazement at several tables filled with cakes, all resting on identical glass holders. "Why do they all look alike except for the color of the frosting?" she asked.

"They're being tested for taste, not looks," said Mom, "so the rules said they were to have no decorations.  I'll show you which ones are mine."  Her eyes searched each table. "Look!" Mom pointed to the table of chocolate cakes. "That second one is mine. I baked it this morning.  And over there . . . the last cake on that table of white cakes is mine, too."

"How do you know?" Mary asked.  "They all look the same to me."

"Not to me," said Mom. "For one thing, I recognize them by the way the frosting is swirled. I see other little differences, too." She smiled at Mary. "Remember what we were talking about at home? This reminds me that God made you, honey, and Almighty God recognizes you as a special person. There's not a chance that He'll mix you up with anyone else."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder if God knows you personally?  You can be assured that He does!  Even if everyone on earth had your name and face, God would still know you from anybody else. God knows the work of His hands.   The Bible says that He even knows the number of hairs on your head.  Knowing that He cares about those little details should assure you that He cares about every part of your life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 139:1)
O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

[Soldier4Christ]

Kevin slammed the kitchen door angrily. Startled, Dad looked up from the table where he was reading the newspaper. "Dad, tell Brian to quit copying me," said Kevin, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's always following me around." As Dad put down the paper, Brian rushed into the kitchen. He marched over to his brother and promptly crossed his arms, too.  "See what I mean?" complained Kevin as Brian stared up at him.

Dad smiled at the boys. "Brian copies you because he wants to be like you," he said.

Kevin frowned. "Brian's a copy-cat," he grumbled.

Dad motioned for Brian to come sit beside him. "Okay, Brian," said Dad, "you need to leave your brother alone now." Dad looked at Kevin. "The Bible verses I read this morning tell me we should all be copycats," said Dad.  He reached over and picked up his Bible and opened it. "Come here."  Dad pulled out the chair next to him.  Kevin shuffled over to the table and sat down. "Here," said Dad, "read Ephesians 5:1 for me."

Taking the Bible, Kevin read the verse Dad had indicated. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children."

"Do you know what the word 'followers' means in this verse?" asked Dad.á Kevin shrugged.  Brian shrugged, too. "It means to imitate, or copy," explained Dad. "We're to copy what God does." Brian was grinning at Kevin and Dad smiled. "Brian cares for you, Kevin, and he shows it by wanting to do the same things you do. We show our love for God by doing the things He wants us to do."

Kevin scratched his head. Giggling, Brian did the same. Then Kevin gave his brother a quick playful punch on the shoulder.  Brian punched back.  He squealed as Kevin tackled him, and together they fell to the floor, laughing.

Dad laughed, too. "Enough, boys," he said.á "No more copying Kevin right now, Brian. Let's just all do our best to copy the actions we believe will please God."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you get frustrated when others imitate you? Do they repeat what you say, act the way you act, or try to look like you by wearing similar clothes?   Remember, we imitate those we love.   If you love Jesus, copy Him.   Let others see Jesus in you so they will want to copy Him, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 5:1)
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hi, Mom!" called Brenda as she came in from school.

"Hi, honey," replied Mother.  "Sara called and asked if you could go over and play at her house when you got home."

"I can't today," said Brenda.  "I told Maggie I'd see if it was okay for her to come here and play. Is it?"

"Well, I guess so," said Mother, "but why don't you ask Sara to come, too? You hardly ever have time to play with her lately, and she really misses you.  She doesn't have many friends, you know."

"But Mom, you know Sara can't do anything much but play simple games, and Maggie and I want to play other things," pleaded Brenda. "I'm really too old for the kind of stuff Sara likes to play."

Mother frowned. "I think she'd be happy to let you choose what to play.  She'd probably just sit quietly and watch most of the time. Besides, you never minded playing with Sara before. In fact, you always had a good time together."

"I know," admitted Brenda. She hesitated before adding, "It's just that she . . . well, it's just that the kids at school say she's not too smart. They wouldn't understand if they knew I played with her." Wanting to change the subject, she said, "Maggie and I want to play with our dolls today. She can come, can't she? I told her she could play with my new doll, and I'm going to play with my favorite one -- Alicia."

"You are?" asked Mother. "One of her arms is missing. What will Maggie say if she sees you playing with that old doll?"

"I don't care what Maggie says," said Brenda. "I like Alicia best of all my dolls."

"I see," murmured Mother. "So it's all right to enjoy a 'thing,' even if it doesn't look perfect to some people, but if a person is 'different,' we just ignore her?"

"A person?" asked Brenda. Then she blushed. "Oh, you mean Sara. I . . . I . . ." She was quiet for a moment. "Okay, Mom," she said finally. "I do like Sara. I'll ask both Maggie and Sara to come over."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you include people even if they look different or are handicapped in some way?  God created every person, and He loves each one.  We don't understand why He made some one way and some another, but all are created in His image, and all are special to Him.  Treat each one the way you would like to be treated.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Matthew 7:12)
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, how do I change this print?" Stacey called from the study. She was
using the computer for her homework.

"Here, I'll help you." Stacey's younger brother, Mark, jumped up from the floor where he was playing with his trucks. "The type of print is called the font," he said. "What font do you want?" He showed Stacey the various print types she could use.  After she chose one, Mark clicked the mouse a few times, and soon Stacey was finishing her homework.

When Stacey wanted to use the computer the next evening, there was the old font again. "Who changed this? Mark?" she called out. "Why did you change this back, you dummy? Now set it up again!"

"I didn't change anything," said Mark.

"Don't lie! You fix it right now or I'll beat you up!" ordered Stacey.

"Not if you ask me like that," replied Mark. He let out a yell as Stacy jumped up and came after him.

"What's going on here?" demanded Mother, hurrying into the room.

"Mark changed the computer, and now he won't fix it," replied Stacey.

"I didn't touch it," insisted Mark.

"Why don't you learn to fix it yourself, Stacey?" suggested Mom, and she showed Stacey how to set it up. "But understand," added Mom, "that unless we change the default, the old font will come up again the next time we turn the computer on."

"The default?" asked Stacey.  "What's that?"

"It's the way the computer is set to come on," said Mom. "Unless we make a permanent change, it will automatically come up with the old font."

"Let's change it then," said Stacey. Mom agreed, and soon it was done. "That takes care of one problem," said Mom, "but I'm afraid something else needs a change in its 'default setting.' Your angry reaction when things don't go your way indicates that a change is needed in your heart. You need to ask Jesus to help you make that change. And then you can start showing it by apologizing to your brother."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you a Christian but often find yourself getting angry, telling lies, swearing, or doing other things you know are wrong?  Maybe you've determined to change, but you keep reacting in the same way.  Only God has the power to change you.  As He reveals to you various areas in your life that need to change, ask Him to help you make the changes in your "heart's settings" to please Him.  You can have victory.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Thanks be to God, which  giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom! Mom!" called Joey one morning. "Something just awful has happened to Fuzzy! Come and see. Quick!" Joey was clutching a glass jar with holes punched in the lid and some twigs and leaves on the inside.

When Mom came, she gently took the jar from Joey and peered through the glass. "Oh, good!" she said. "This is wonderful!"

"Wonderful?" wailed Joey. "How can you say that? Fuzzy's dead! He's all closed up in that dead piece of skin.  He's not even moving!"

"That's okay, Joey," said Mom.  "You're going to learn a lesson about nature and a lesson about God, too. It's all about new life."

"Is Jesus going to give Fuzzy new life?" asked Joey.

"In a way, He is," replied Mom.  "This is all part of God's plan for caterpillars, and it's a picture of God's plan for Christians, too. I know you liked Fuzzy as a caterpillar, but you knew he'd be a caterpillar for only a short time. We talked about that. When the time is right, caterpillars weave a cocoon around themselves, and then they change, remember?"

"I forgot," said Joey.

"The cocoon is what you see around Fuzzy now," said Mom. "In a way, he dies as a caterpillar while he's in the cocoon. But in a few weeks, you'll get to see him as a new creature. He won't be a caterpillar -- he'll be a butterfly. It reminds me of when a person becomes a Christian. We're spiritually dead when we enter this world, but when we place our faith in Christ, we become alive in Christ. Fuzzy will be more beautiful when he leaves that cocoon, and our new life in Christ is much more beautiful and free than the old one."

Joey grinned. "And we didn't even have to spin a cocoon!" he said.

Mom laughed. "No, Joey. God does the work in us," she replied.

"When Fuzzy comes out of the cocoon, all new and beautiful, do you think I should give him a new name?" asked Joey.

"That might be a good idea," said Mom with a smile. "I don't think I've ever seen any 'fuzzy' butterflies."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you received new life in Christ?  If not, why not?  The new life Jesus gives is far better in every way than the old sinful life.  Accept Jesus today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Why can't I get a camouflage outfit?" asked Lon. "Uncle Derek has one. He uses it for hunting. I think it's cool."

"Well, you're not going hunting," said Mother, "and you don't need any new outfits right now." Lon scowled and hurried off to school.

That day, Lon's teacher introduced a unit on myths. "Myths are stories people made up to explain how certain things came to be," explained Mrs. Snowden. "Can anyone give me an example of a myth?"

A girl raised her hand. "The Bible is a book of myths," she said.

Mrs. Snowden nodded. "Some people believe that," she said. "Others believe that the stories in the Bible are true."

Lon was startled. The Bible is the true Word of God, he thought to himself -- but he didn't say anything.

"We're going to be reading some Greek myths today," said Mrs. Snowden, "and we'll see what you think of them."  After they read a myth about how the world was made, one of the boys spoke up. "I can see why people might believe this," he said. "It kinda makes sense." Several other students agreed.

That's ridiculous, Lon thought.  The Bible tells us how things really came to be. But when Mrs. Snowden asked how many thought the myth they had just read was believable, Lon saw hands go up all around him. Slowly, he raised his hand, too.

When Lon got home from school, he told his mother about the lesson. "Did you speak up and tell the class what you know is true?" she asked.

"I thought about it," answered Lon, "but I didn't want them to think I was weird."

Mother raised her eyebrows. "I don't know why you want me to buy you a camouflage outfit," she said. "It seems to me you're wearing one."

"This?" asked Lon, looking at his blue jeans.

"You blended in with the nonbelievers today," explained Mother. "I know it's hard to be the only one to stand for the truth, but I hope next time you'll have the courage to do it."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you hide your Christian beliefs in order to blend in with others, like Peter did in today's Scripture reading?  As a result he "wept bitterly. "  Don't share that experience.  Take off the camouflage and stand up for what you believe.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 107:2)
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

[Soldier4Christ]

"What time was it when you put dinner in the oven, Dad?" asked Mark, going into the living room. "I'm ready to eat, and it seems like we've been waiting a long time for that lasagna to be ready, but I don't even smell it yet."

"Hmmm. I don't either," said Dad. He glanced at his watch. "The package says it needs to bake for an hour, and the time is almost up." Dad got up and went to the kitchen. "Oh, no!" he exclaimed. "I followed the directions Mom left -- I took the cover off and put the dish in the oven -- but I forgot to turn the oven on! I guess she figured I'd know enough to do that.  Looks like dinner will take another hour."

"But I'm starving!" complained Mark.

"And I'm sorry," apologized Dad.  "Let's have an apple to take care of some of the hunger pangs." They each chose a shiny red apple. "This mistake reminds me of Pastor Grey's teaching last Sunday," added Dad.

Mark grinned. "Sounds like we're going to have family devotions before we eat tonight," he said.

"Good idea -- we will," said Dad with a smile. "We'll read the passage from James that Pastor Grey read and think about what he told us. He said we often take in God's Word, but we don't apply it to our lives."

"What's that got to do with the oven or our lasagna?" grumbled Mark. "I'm starving!"

"Well, Pastor mentioned that in Sunday school or church -- and in our own devotions -- we often learn about how to live as Christians. We even memorize verses, but then we forget about them. It's like we don't 'turn them on' in our lives. The knowledge just sits there -- cold, like our lasagna," explained Dad. "Then when we're in situations where we need to draw on God's principles, we find that we've forgotten them, and we're left . . ."

"Hungry," finished Mark.

"And unforgiving," added Dad with a twinkle in his eye, "and unkind, and accusing."

Mark grinned at his father. "Okay, Dad," he said,á "you're forgiven, and I'll try to remember to 'turn on' the Bible lessons I'm taught."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know lots of lessons from the Bible?  Be sure to "turn them on" in your life so you're ready to do God's will in every situation you face.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (James 1:22)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jack and his friend Steven stayed after school to work on their molecule model for the school science fair.  "We need to think of a way to show that molecules move around," said Jack. "Then our project will have a better chance of winning."

"I think this is good enough the way it is," argued Steven. "After all, we can't even see the molecules as they supposedly move and bang into each other. Who knows if they really do move all the time?" After discussing it a bit more, the boys agreed to think about it for a day or two.

At dinner that evening, Jack's dad mentioned that they should be praying more faithfully for their friends, the Thompsons, who were facing some very difficult problems. Jack sighed. "It seems like we've prayed for them a million times, and I haven't seen a single change there yet," he said.

As they ate, Jack told his parents about the project for the science fair. "We've learned that everything is made up of tiny particles, or molecules, that are always in motion," he said, "but just because we can't actually see them, Steven isn't so sure they're really moving all the time. He ought to know that just because you can't see something, it doesn't mean it's not happening."

"Don't be too annoyed with Steven," challenged Mother. "After all, you two are a lot alike." Jack frowned as he looked at his mother, and she explained. "Steven can't see the molecules move, so he's not so sure they do. You can't see God work in the lives of the Thompsons, so you're not so sure He's working there."

Dad nodded. "Good point," he agreed. "Sometimes changes are taking place that aren't visible to us. We need to trust God and believe He's active, even when we don't see what's happening."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you confident that God answers prayer --  even when you don't see that anything is happening?  God often works in quiet ways, but He's always working.  Trust Him even when you can't see the results you hoped for.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Daniel 2:21)
And He (God) changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.

[Soldier4Christ]

Christie was babysitting Matt and Stevie Jamison while their mother attended a class. She quickly discovered that caring for the boys was quite a challenge, and she was glad when she finally saw Mrs. Jamison pull into the driveway.

As Christie got ready to go home, Mrs. Jamison thanked her for coming. "I explained to your mother that since my husband died, our budget has been really tight," said Mrs. Jamison hesitantly. "I'm sorry that I can't pay you right now, but I should have some extra money next week. Your mom was sure that would be okay with you."

"Sure. That's okay," Christie heard herself saying, but after Mrs. Jamison took her home, she walked into the house feeling cheated. "Mom, Mrs. Jamison wasn't able to pay me," she complained loudly, "and the boys were terrible."

Mother looked up from her sewing.  "Oh, that's right! She told me she wouldn't have the money till next week, but I forgot to mention it. I'm sorry," sympathized Mother.á A moment later she added, "Maybe you could do this for Jesus. If you're really doing it for Him, you'll have reward in heaven. Wouldn't that be enough?"

Christie could hardly believe what she heard, but as she went to her room, she knew God was speaking to her heart.

When Mrs. Jamison asked Christie to babysit the following week, Christie agreed. She figured she was in for an eventful evening, and she was right.  This time, Mrs. Jamison held out a check when she got home. "I appreciate your patience in waiting for this," said Mrs. Jamison.

Christie shook her head. "There's no charge," she said. "I just want to do this for you -- I'll come again next week." Christie could hardly believe she had said that, but she found that she felt good about it.  She really did want to help the Jamisons and do it as unto the Lord. I know the Jamisons don't have much money, so I'll babysit as a love gift to them and to Jesus, she decided.

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you always expect people to pay you when you help them?   It's nice to be paid for what you do, but any pay you may receive now cannot compare with what the Lord will give you when you serve Him by serving others.  Don't always expect to be paid for being helpful.   Be willing to wait for the reward God will give.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 11:18)
To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

[Soldier4Christ]

Tim stretched and yawned, lazily watching the campfire. He was on a camping trip with his Sunday school class, and he was tired. His head started to nod, and his eyes grew heavy. But suddenly he sat up, wide awake at the eerie sound coming from the dark, forbidding woods nearby. "Whooo, hoo-hoo, whooo, whooo," came the cry. Everyone peered into the deep darkness, and Tim and a few other boys scooted a little closer to the bright, comforting fire.

"That's my friend, Mr. Owl," came Mr. Atkins' voice, "and I guess he's ready to do a little hunting for his dinner. Now let's see what you boys know about owls. What kind of beaks do they have?"

"Hooked beaks!" Tim blurted out quickly.

"Right," responded Mr. Atkins.  "What are their claws like?"

Another boy volunteered the answer. "They're sharp!"

"Hey, you boys are pretty good so far," approved Mr. Atkins. "Who can tell me something about their eyes."

"They can see in the dark," offered one of the boys.

"Right! They have night vision, so they sleep during the day and hunt at night.  The good news is that they don't eat boys," said Mr. Atkins with a chuckle in his voice. "Owls have very sensitive eyes, and when they fly overhead, they can see even very small animals on the ground."

From the woods came another "Whooo! Whooo!" but this time no one seemed afraid. Knowing more about the owls made the sounds seem friendlier. Mr. Atkins stretched his legs. "God gave owls wonderful vision," he said, "but it's nothing compared to the way God can see. The Bible says that 'the eyes of the Lord are in every place.' Now that's great eyesight -- to be able to see everywhere at the same time -- isn't it?"

"Yeah, but it's kind of scary, too," said one of the boys.

Mr. Atkins smiled. "Well, it could be," he agreed, "because God sees whenever you do something wrong. But it's important to remember that God also sees you when you do what's right. And He looks right into your heart and sees the love you have for Him."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you glad that God can see over the whole world all at one time -- even into the heart of every person?  Whenever your heart swells with love for Him and the desire to please Him, He knows about it.  He sees all your good deeds and acts of obedience as well as the things that are wrong.   What will He see today?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 15:3)
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Hey, what's with your friend Sammy?" asked Brett's brother, Mark, one evening. "I heard some kids call him 'Sammy Squirrel.' What is that supposed to mean?"

Brett grinned as he looked up.  "Sammy's mom packs a lunch for him every day, but he always wants to have something from everybody else's lunch, too," he explained. "The kids say he's never satisfied with what he has, and that he's like a squirrel that steals bird seed from the bird feeders even though it has enough food of its own."  Brett's thoughts returned to the book he had gotten from the library -- a book on witchcraft. This is wild, he thought. These guys do real magic! It would be fun to see it done.

"What are you reading, Son?" asked Dad as he put down his paper.

"Just a book," said Brett, feeling a little uneasy.

"The Magic of Witchcraft?" asked Dad, noticing the title. After a moment, he asked, "Isn't one 'Sammy Squirrel' enough?"

"What do you mean?" asked Brett.  "Sammy doesn't have anything to do with this."

"He was called 'Sammy Squirrel' because he has all the food he needs, but he still reaches out for more -- for things that belong to others," said Dad. "As a Christian, you have everything you need for living. You have our loving Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. You have the Bible and the Holy Spirit to guide you through life." Dad paused, then added,  "Why are you reaching out for more -- for things that belong to the devil?"

"I just thought I'd take a look," said Brett sheepishly.

"Don't even dabble in it," said Dad sternly. "Taking a look is opening the door to Satan's territory, and God forbids it. For your own good, be content with God's power and work in your life, Brett. Satan's power can only bring about evil."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you satisfied with all the wisdom and knowledge God has displayed in His Word, or do you dabble in things of the world?  Do you think you can learn something from fortune-tellers or from the stars?  Be aware that anything involved with witchcraft or fortune-telling is dangerous!  Be content with all that God has provided for a Christian's life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Corinthians 2:12)
We have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Because there was so much arguing going on inside the house, no one heard Travis go out the back door. He ran across the yard to his favorite tree.  Somehow, sitting in the big old tree made Travis feel better -- safe from things like noise and hurt. The tree was his hiding place and escape.

Travis stayed in the tree for a long time. He listened to birds chirp and sing. He watched small, quick squirrels run around the yard. The day looked better from high up in his favorite hiding place. There were no problems there. Still, his heart was very heavy.

"Travis!" called Mom from the back door. "Where are you?"  Travis saw that his grandmother was there, too, so he climbed down and walked slowly toward the house. "Grandma wants to know if you'd like to go home with her for a while," said Mom. "Would you like to do that?" Eagerly, Travis nodded.

"That tree you were in must be very special to you," said Grandma as they got into the car. "Your mom says you spend a lot of time there."

"I like it up there," said Travis.  "It's away from everything." With a big sigh, he added, "But it's almost winter. Then I won't be able to hide in my tree anymore."

"Sounds like you'll need a new hiding place," responded Grandma, "and you know what?á There's a better place -- let's call it a bigger 'tree' --  where you can take shelter from the things that trouble you."

Travis was surprised. "There is?" he asked. "Where?"

"Well," replied Grandma, "it can be most any place you want it to be. You see, honey, it's in the Lord's presence. If you'll go to Him with your problems, He'll help you get through them. You can talk to Him anywhere, at any time. Sometimes it's good to actually get right down on your knees and ask God to hold you safe. As you talk to Him and think about His love and His power, you'll know that you're safe in His care."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Where do you go when you are hurt, sad, afraid, or disappointed?   When you need to "get away and hide," remember that God wants to protect you.  Think about Him.  Talk to Him.  Ask Him to hold, keep, and comfort you in the bad times -- and in the good times, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 31:20)
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence . . . from the strife of tongues.

[Soldier4Christ]

When Bryan woke one morning, the strangeness of his room surprised him. Then he remembered the plane ride that had brought him to Arizona to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  He hopped out of bed at once. It was his first trip here, and he didn't want to waste time.

The sun streaming through the window promised a nice day. Bryan looked out and saw that the landscape was much different from that in New Jersey.  When he saw an orange tree, he knew what he wanted to do first.

Bryan found Grandma in the kitchen, fixing breakfast.  "Grandma, may I go out and pick an orange?" he asked after greeting her.

"You may pick one, Bryan," said Grandma, "but they aren't good to eat." Bryan went out and picked the biggest orange he could find. It looked so good that he wondered if Grandma could be mistaken.

"Are you sure this isn't good to eat?" asked Bryan, putting the orange on the counter.

"I'll let you be the judge," said Grandma. She cut a wedge out of the orange for Bryan to taste.

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

"That's the kind of tree it is, Bryan," replied Grandma. "It looks pretty, but it's an ornamental orange tree and produces only poor fruit.  It often reminds me of people."

"People?" Bryan asked.

"Yes, people who try to get to heaven without accepting Jesus," explained Grandma. "Their own efforts turn out just like the fruit of the ornamental orange tree. The things they do may look good to lots of people, but all their 'good work' can't earn heaven for them. It doesn't make them Christians. Without Christ, no one can produce good fruit."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you trying to be a good person?  Do you go to church, give to needy causes, and generally act the way Christians do?  Do you look like a Christian and seem to have the fruit of the Spirit in your life?  Maybe your friends can't tell the difference, but God can!   He sees your heart.   He knows whether or not you've accepted Jesus as Savior, and for real fruit, you need to do that.    If you haven't done so, wouldn't you like to accept Him now?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 15:4)
The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.

[Soldier4Christ]

"This has been a fruitful day," said Grandpa as they finished supper at the close of Bryan's first day in Arizona. Bryan grinned.  He and Grandpa had taken a trip to an orange grove, and they had come back with lots of oranges -- enough to have fresh fruit all week, according to Grandma.

"Since our minds are already on fruit, let's examine the 'fruit of the Spirit' -- the spiritual qualities that come from allowing Jesus to live in our hearts," suggested Grandpa. Opening his Bible, he leafed through the pages until he found the Scripture he was looking for. He handed the Bible to Bryan and pointed to the verses he wanted read.

"Galatians 5:18-24," said Bryan.  In a strong voice, he read the passage clearly. "That seems like a lot of fruit for one person," Bryan added when he finished reading.

"Don't let the list scare you," said Grandpa. "All of us who are Christians have this fruit in our lives, but we all need to work at letting more and more of it be evident. We aren't perfect, but we need to keep working toward that goal." Grandpa smiled. "Why don't we all think about the fruit listed in the passage and pick out one we need to develop."

Bryan studied the list. "I don't see it here," he said after a moment, "but Mom says I need more patience."

"I think the word 'longsuffering' describes it," said Grandma. "Would you like us to pray that God will help you be more patient?" Bryan nodded, and Grandma smiled. "All right, and you both can pray with me that God will continue to develop the quality of peace in my life," she said. "I tend to worry -- like when you were late getting back from the orange grove."

"And I still have trouble with temperance -- or self-control," admitted Grandpa. "Occasionally I still get angry for silly reasons." He closed the Bible. "Let's pray daily for one another," he said. "Let's ask God to help us develop 'fruit' that pleases Him."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you need help with one particular spiritual "fruit" in your life?   Are you working to develop that quality?  You'll need the Holy Spirit's help.  Also, you'll find that it's often good to discuss it with your parents or pastor.  They'll pray with you about it and help you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 5:22-23)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control).

[Soldier4Christ]

Just as Lindsey finished dialing, her mother walked into the room. "Are you still using the phone?" asked Mother. "Hang up now, please.á I have to call the dentist's office."

"Just a second, Mom," said Lindsey. "I've already dialed, and I might get through this time." As Mother was about to reply, Lindsey frowned and hung up the phone.  "Aw, busy again," she muttered.

Mother folded her arms. "What's going on, anyway?" she asked.

"I thought you knew," said Lindsey. "Radio station WHUM is having a contest this week. Every so often, they play a certain song, and the third person to call in wins fifty dollars." She sighed. "They've played it four times today, and every time I call, I get a busy signal."

"Well, I need to make a dental appointment," said Mother. "Don't you have anything more constructive to do? Didn't you say you were given a Bible study project for your youth group this week?"

Lindsey frowned. "Oh, Mom, it's so boring," she said with a sigh. "I don't get anything out of it, so what's the use of doing it?"

Mother looked concerned. "Well," she said, "what's the use of continuing to call the number of that radio station? You don't get anything out of that, either."

"But one of these times I'll get through!" exclaimed Lindsey. "Then if I'm the third person to call, my persistence will pay off. I'll have more money for my bicycle fund."

Mother patted Lindsey's shoulder.  "Persistence is a good quality, honey," she agreed, "and if you apply it to studying God's Word, you'll find that it 'pays off' in that area, too. Keep on reading your Bible. Keep on doing your Bible lessons. Eventually, you'll 'get through' -- you'll learn some important lesson from it. Be as persistent in your spiritual life as you are with that contest. You'll find that a close relationship with God is worth much more than a bike."

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does reading the Bible and praying seem "boring" to you?  First of all, make sure you know Jesus as your Savior.   (See page 66.)  Then, read the Bible regularly and pray, even if you find it hard to do.  Persist in your daily fellowship with God, and you will benefit from it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (2 Timothy 2:15)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.