Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Phil looked up from his puzzle as his mother walked into the house with two bags of groceries. "Hi, honey," she said. "There are two more bags of groceries in the car. Will you get them, please? And I need you to get some other things, too. When I picked up my purse along with these bags, it was upside down, and several things fell out. Pick up that stuff, too, okay?"

"Sure, Mom." Phil nodded and hurried out to the garage. He took the bags of groceries into the house and set them on the cupboard. Then he went back to get the things that had spilled from Mom's purse. Along with several other items, he found four one dollar bills. Phil picked them up and looked at them thoughtfully. Then he put one of the bills in his pocket. "Here's your stuff," he said when he returned to the house.

"Thanks, Phil," said Mom. "Now I'd like you to take the swatter and get rid of these flies." She frowned. "Where do they come from?"

Phil grinned and got the swatter. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed after a moment. Then he saw a fly sunning itself on a window sill. "Mom, come see this fly," he called. "It looks like it is cleaning its face-just like our cat does."

"It does look that way," agreed Mom. "A man on TV was talking about flies the other day. He mentioned some interesting things. He said the flies' legs have brushes that they use to clean their eyes."

"Oh, yuck!" groaned Phil, making a face.

"The man described their eyes, too," continued Mom, "and they're amazing! He said they have 4000 simple eyes in each large eye."

"Wow!" exclaimed Phil. "That's weird."

"When I heard that, it made me think of a verse in the Psalms," said Mom. "David wrote, 'He who formed the eye, shall He not see?'"

As Phil put his hand into his pocket, he felt the bill.
God sees this, too, he thought. I better give it back-but if I give it back now,
Mom will know I was going to keep it. I'll leave and come back and pretend I
just found it. He started toward the door, then stopped. But God would see that,
too. With a sigh, he pulled out the bill. "I . . . I was going to keep this," he
confessed, "but . . . here it is, and . . . well, I'm sorry."

[Soldier4Christ]

Megan shrugged as she missed her basketball shot. "Oh, well! Nobody's perfect!" she said, and the other girls laughed with her. "Nobody's perfect" was one of Megan's favorite phrases, and her friends almost knew ahead of time when they would hear it again.

One day Megan went with her friend Amie to Bible Club. She enjoyed most of it, but she certainly did not agree with one of the things the teacher said. "No matter how good you are," said Mrs. Gates, "you're not good enough for heaven. You're a sinner, but Jesus took the punishment for your sins. The only way you can get into heaven is by trusting in Jesus as your Savior."

"That's silly!" insisted Megan as she and Amie walked home. "She makes it sound like everybody's such a terrible sinner. I'm not all that bad!"

"You may be a pretty decent kid," replied Amie, "but I know you've done things that are wrong. I remember the time you and I sneaked . . ."

Megan laughed. "Okay, okay," she said, "but even that wasn't so awful bad. And what about people like my Uncle Bob? He's always helping others. He gives lots of money to places like the cancer society and the city mission-even the church. And last year when his neighbor's house was on fire, he rushed in himself to get the baby out. He could have been killed! Besides, he always . . ." Suddenly she stopped. "Oh, I'm so busy talking, I'm not paying attention! We just passed my street, and I forgot to turn." Megan laughed at herself. "How dumb can you be?" she added. "Oh, well! Nobody's perfect!"

"That's what God said, too-He said we've all sinned," replied Amie. "Even though the stuff you admitted to doing wasn't so bad-according to you anyway-no sin can enter heaven. So no matter how much good you or your uncle do, you still have to get rid of your sin. Only Jesus can take it away. Think about that."

Megan did think about it as she turned and slowly headed
back home.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you fit for heaven? No lying, disobedience, cheating, gossip-nor any other sin-can enter heaven. Did you read today's Scripture? One person in that passage did many good deeds; the other asked for God's mercy. Jesus said the one who asked for mercy was saved-not the other one. Which are you like? Admit your sin and ask Jesus to forgive and save you. (See the ABCs at the end of this book.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"There shall by no means enter it (heaven) anything that defiles . . . but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." Revelations 21:27

[Soldier4Christ]

"I think you've got a bite!" Blake pointed excitedly.

"Oh, you're right!" exclaimed Dad. He quickly raised the line and brought up a fish. The boat bobbed gently in the breeze as he took the fish off the hook and put it into the bucket.

"You almost lost him, Dad," Blake said. "Guess you were daydreaming, huh?"

Dad smiled. "I wasn't exactly daydreaming," he said. "I was just thinking about a Bible verse I memorized this morning. I don't want to forget it."

"I thought only us kids had to memorize verses," said Blake in surprise. "I guess I figured once a person could read well, he wouldn't have to memorize verses anymore."

Dad shook his head. "It's a good idea to memorize verses all your life, Blake. Knowing God's Word by heart lets you think about it when your hands are busy-like right now, while we're out here in the boat."

Blake grinned. "I guess it would be kind of hard to hold a fishing pole and read the Bible at the same time."

Dad laughed. "That's right. Another thing I like about memorizing Scripture is that when your mind is full of Scripture, you have an answer ready when bad thoughts or temptations come."

Blake was thoughtful. "There's lots more to memorizing Scripture than just winning contests, isn't there?"

"Yes, there is," agreed Dad. "Learn the verses assigned
to you in Sunday school, camp, Bible club-and keep on reviewing. You can never
learn too much Scripture, and you'll find that it comforts and encourages you as
it comes to your mind over and over."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What do you understand best-something you know by heart or something you've read once or twice? If you have God's Word in your head, it will also go deeper and deeper into your heart and life, and will be there when you need it. It takes some time to memorize, but having God's Word in your heart is well worth any effort it takes to put it there.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night." Joshua 1:8

[Soldier4Christ]

Cheri walked into the house more briskly than usual. "I've had it with her," she said, pulling up a kitchen chair.

"You've had it with who?" asked Mom.

"Jolene Andrews-that's who." Restlessly, Cheri pushed the chair back and fiddled with a strand of her hair. She bit her lower lip before starting to explain. "Do you remember what I gave her for her birthday?"

Mom nodded. "You gave her a year's subscription to a Christian magazine. As I recall, you wanted to give her the subscription because you hoped it would be a witness to her-that maybe it would help her come to know Jesus."

"That's right," Cheri replied. There was still anger in her voice. "She was always reading my magazine whenever she was here, so I spent my own hard-earned baby sitting money to get it for her. Well, I overheard her telling some girls that I was pushing religion on her and that she hasn't read either of the two issues that came to her house!"

"I'm sorry," said Mom sympathetically. "Let's be sure to pray for her."

"But she's making accusations about me!" Cheri complained. "Some friend she is!"

"Honey," said Mom, "it's too bad she reacted that way, but you gave her that subscription because you knew she needed the Lord. She still needs Him, doesn't she?"

"Well . . . sure," mumbled Cheri.

"Don't forget, Jolene has had only two issues," said Mom.
"There will be ten more months of witness coming to her house. Let's pray that
she'll read those." Mom paused, waiting for Cheri to comment, but she said
nothing "You know, it's possible that her reaction to your gift is partly
because she sees her need," added Mom. "You've planted the seed, but it's God
who must work in her heart. Let's ask Him to do that."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you tried to witness, has someone reacted in anger? Don't get discouraged or become angry in return. Continue to show love and friendship. God asks you to be faithful in witnessing. He is the one who brings about the results.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." 1 Corinthians 3:6

[Soldier4Christ]

Dad reached for his Bible after dinner. "What song would you like to sing before I read?" he asked, looking up from the passage he was selecting.

Aaron spoke up quickly. "Let's sing 'What a Mighty God We Serve.' We've been singing that in Sunday school." He looked at his little brother, who was busy with chocolate pudding. "Put your spoon down, Tyler," added Aaron. Tyler did so, but when the others began to sing, he did not join in.

At the end of the song, Dad looked over at his younger son. "You usually like to sing, Tyler, but you weren't singing tonight," said Dad.

Tyler shook his head. "I can't sing with a dirty mouth," he said solemnly.

Dad smiled. "I think Tyler taught us a lesson," he said as he reached for a napkin and began wiping pudding from Tyler's face. "Your mouth was dirty from the pudding, Tyler, and you wanted it to be clean before you sang. Sometimes our mouths can be 'dirty' from sin. That's much more serious. We should all be sure they're clean when we praise God."

"Dirty from sin? You mean like . . . from saying bad words?" Aaron asked.

"That for one thing," Dad agreed. "I was also thinking that we often say things to hurt one another."

Tyler spoke up. "Sometimes Aaron calls me names."

Mom spoke quietly. "We all need to be more careful of what we say. It's often our mouths that get us into trouble," she said. "Parents can be guilty, too-guilty of being critical or angry or complaining. And we all tend to brag now and then. That's not good, either."

Dad nodded. "Before we offer our prayers or our praises to a God who is holy, let's ask Him to cleanse us from any sin we have committed."

Aaron summed up the lesson they had learned. "I guess,"
he said, grinning at Tyler, "it would be okay for you to sing with pudding on
your mouth as long as your heart is clean!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you always pray and sing with a "clean mouth"? Don't allow the sins of anger, criticism, gossip, or boasting to stain your lips. Be sure to "wipe your mouth" each time it becomes smudged by wrong speech. Do this by confessing your sin to the Lord. Then you can pray and sing His praises with a "clean" mouth.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom, may I have an advance on my allowance?" asked Katie one day.

"An advance?" repeated Mom. "What do you need it for?"

Katie took a deep breath. "I can't tell you," she said. "It's a secret."

"The last time you asked for money and didn't want to tell me why," said Mom, "you had hit a softball through Mr. Grimes' window."

"I haven't broken anything, Mom. Honest! Please trust me," pleaded Katie. "It's for a good reason, but I want to keep it between me and the Lord."

Mom looked at Katie thoughtfully. Then she asked how much Katie needed, got her purse, and gave Katie the money. "This is a large advance," said Mom. "Remember . . . it comes out of your allowance."

Katie nodded and tried not to think about all the things she'd be giving up. Instead, she thought about her friend Sarah. Their class was studying sea life, and their teacher had arranged for them to visit an aquarium in a nearby town. It was not required-the school had no money to buy tickets for the students, so they had to pay their own way if they wanted to go. Permission slips and money had been coming in for several days. But not from Sarah. Her dad had been laid off at the factory, and there was no extra money at Sarah's house.

The next morning, Katie arrived at school early. Her classroom was empty. Heart racing, she walked quietly to Sarah's desk and slid an envelope containing the money into Sarah's math book. Sarah will find it soon, she thought. We always have math first thing in the morning. Earlier that morning Katie had written on the envelope, "Field trip. Don't guess who. Just get your parents' permission."

The bell rang, and Katie went quickly to her desk and
kept one eye on the door. Sarah soon came in. She went to her desk and pulled
out her math book. Finding Katie's envelope, she opened it. Her eyes grew big.
Her mouth fell open. Katie giggled and put her attention to her spelling words.
Please, God, she prayed, please don't let her ever find out it was
me.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever done something good for someone-without telling anybody? This week ask God to show you someone who needs your help, and then give it in a way that only you and He will ever know who it was. It's the kind of giving God wants you to do. And guess what else? It's fun!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them." Matthew 6:1

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom! Come see what I found!" Andy tugged on his mother's hand and led her to the back porch. He pointed to a large box.

Mom looked inside. "Three puppies!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah. I found them in the ditch on the way home from school. Can we keep them?" Andy frowned. "Do you think they've been without their mother very long?" he asked anxiously.

"Not too long, but they'll need to be fed soon," Mom said, petting a fuzzy black puppy. "I'll warm a little milk and see if they'll take it. And no, we can't keep them-at least not all of them-but we'll see what we can do about finding homes for them."

After the puppies had been fed, Andy carefully placed the box in the garage and then went back to the kitchen. "I love dogs," he told his mother. "I'm glad you, do, too." Andy grinned. "I like all animals."

"I know you do," said Mom. "Your actions show it." She smiled. "It reminds me of what Pastor said yesterday-and what the Bible says-about our actions showing others our faith. When we truly believe in God, we'll show our faith by the things we do."

"We will?" asked Andy. "Like . . . what kind of things?"

"You tell me," said Mom. "Would getting angry because you didn't get something you want show that you trust God?" Andy shook his head. "How about praying for a nice day for a picnic and then not worrying about it?" Andy thought about that, and then he nodded.

Just then Mom and Andy heard Dad's car door slam shut. "The strangest thing . . ." said Dad entering the room. "I thought I heard a squeaking sound out in the garage." He put down his briefcase. "I'd better go check."

Andy jumped up. "Follow me, Dad," he said. "I'll explain everything." Andy led the way out to the garage.

Mom smiled when she heard Andy's chatter as he and Dad
returned. "So . . . I say I love animals, and Mom says I show it by what I do-by
the way I treat them," said Andy. "And I say I have faith in God, and I show
that by what I do, too." He grinned up at his father. "I guess it's like our
actions talk for us," added Andy. "They should tell people that we love
God."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Mom! Come see what I found!" Andy tugged on his mother's hand and led her to the back porch. He pointed to a large box.

Mom looked inside. "Three puppies!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah. I found them in the ditch on the way home from school. Can we keep them?" Andy frowned. "Do you think they've been without their mother very long?" he asked anxiously.

"Not too long, but they'll need to be fed soon," Mom said, petting a fuzzy black puppy. "I'll warm a little milk and see if they'll take it. And no, we can't keep them-at least not all of them-but we'll see what we can do about finding homes for them."

After the puppies had been fed, Andy carefully placed the box in the garage and then went back to the kitchen. "I love dogs," he told his mother. "I'm glad you, do, too." Andy grinned. "I like all animals."

"I know you do," said Mom. "Your actions show it." She smiled. "It reminds me of what Pastor said yesterday-and what the Bible says-about our actions showing others our faith. When we truly believe in God, we'll show our faith by the things we do."

"We will?" asked Andy. "Like . . . what kind of things?"

"You tell me," said Mom. "Would getting angry because you didn't get something you want show that you trust God?" Andy shook his head. "How about praying for a nice day for a picnic and then not worrying about it?" Andy thought about that, and then he nodded.

Just then Mom and Andy heard Dad's car door slam shut. "The strangest thing . . ." said Dad entering the room. "I thought I heard a squeaking sound out in the garage." He put down his briefcase. "I'd better go check."

Andy jumped up. "Follow me, Dad," he said. "I'll explain everything." Andy led the way out to the garage.

Mom smiled when she heard Andy's chatter as he and Dad
returned. "So . . . I say I love animals, and Mom says I show it by what I do-by
the way I treat them," said Andy. "And I say I have faith in God, and I show
that by what I do, too." He grinned up at his father. "I guess it's like our
actions talk for us," added Andy. "They should tell people that we love
God."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Wow!" Brent's eyes were wide with excitement. His parents had just explained to him and his little brother Sammy that the doctors had decided Grandpa should have a heart transplant as soon as a donor could be found.

"It's amazing what doctors have learned to do," said Dad. "We must remember, though, that it's a very dangerous operation and not always successful. Let's pray for Grandpa and trust the Lord for the outcome."

"But what if Grandpa has the heart transplant and then dies anyway?" Sammy asked anxiously. "He wouldn't go to heaven."

Everyone turned and looked at Sammy curiously. "Why do you say that?" asked Mom. "Of course Grandpa would go to heaven. He loves Jesus."

"But my Sunday school teacher says we won't go to heaven unless we have Jesus in our hearts," replied Sammy, "so if Grandpa gets a different heart, he won't be a Christian anymore, will he?"

"Didn't she explain what she meant by having Jesus in your heart?" asked Dad. Sammy just shrugged. "Well," said Dad, "think of it like this, Sammy. You have a big place in my heart, but that doesn't mean you're actually inside my physical heart." Dad placed his hand on his chest. "You don't crawl around in the organ beating inside here. So what do you think it means?"

"I guess . . . I guess it means you love me a whole lot," suggested Sammy.

Dad nodded. "Right. It's like that when we talk about having Jesus in our hearts. We don't mean our physical hearts then, either. We mean we believe Jesus loves us, and we love Him, too. When we trust Him to forgive our sins, we say He comes into our hearts. His Spirit dwells in us-not in our physical hearts, but in our lives. He's with us all the time, and we look to Him to direct us. So . . . no matter what physical heart is inside Grandpa's body, Grandpa loves Jesus and belongs to Him. Okay?"

Sammy nodded. "Okay," he said. He smiled. "I feel better
now."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have Jesus in your heart? The word "heart" in the Bible often refers to your innermost being-the real you that goes on living after the body dies. It's the part that sins and needs to be saved. Have you asked Jesus to wash those sins away and take control of your life? If not, do so today, and then His Spirit will live in you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Key Verse: "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." Ephesians 3:17

[Soldier4Christ]

"This story is too far-out!" exclaimed Anna, shoving her book aside. "I don't believe the things it describes would ever happen."

"What's it about?" asked Mom. "Is it supposed to be a true story?"

Anna looked at the book. "Well, no, I guess not," she said. "It has this story about a man who lived with his son Joe. The man was old, and his hands shook. When he ate, he sometimes knocked things over, so Joe's wife told her husband to make a wooden bowl so his father wouldn't break the good dishes. After that, Joe got tired of seeing the old man spill food at the table, and he made his father take the wooden bowl and sit in the corner to eat. That still wasn't good enough. They got tired of cleaning the food corner, so they made him eat out of the kind of grain bin animals use."

"Dear me!" exclaimed Mom. "That's dreadful!"

"The couple had a little boy," Anna continued, "and one day Joe and his wife saw him whittling-hollowing out a log. Joe asked him what he was doing. 'I'm making a trough so it will be ready for you when you're old and come to live with me,' said the boy." Anna paused a moment. Then she grinned. "I like that part," she decided. "Joe and his wife would get what they deserve. But I still think it's a silly story. Those things would never happen."

"Well, I certainly hope not!" exclaimed Mom. "Still . . . there's something we can learn from the story. It shows the importance of respecting parents and grandparents. Many people don't do that."

Anna nodded. "Cassie's grandma lives with them, and Cassie says she's sometimes embarrassed because her grandma had a stroke and talks real funny. But Cassie's mother says that doesn't matter at all."

"Her mother is right," said Mom. "God's Word instructs
children to honor their parents. It's something we should remember at all times
and under all conditions."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you honor your parents? That includes obeying them. It includes speaking well of them. Do you show respect to your grandparents? To all old people? Follow God's directions regarding this. Learn to show respect and loving care while you're young. Treat elderly people the way you'd like to be treated when you're old.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Learn to show piety (reverence) at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God." 1 Timothy 5:4

[Soldier4Christ]

As Brandon dragged his snow shovel toward home, the cold air seemed to go right through to his bones. Shoveling Mrs. Walker's driveway and front walk had been a big job-especially since he'd had to do it alone!

Brandon was glad to find that his mom had a cup of hot chocolate waiting for him when he got home. "Thanks," he said with a sigh as he slumped into a kitchen chair. "Know what, Mom? I sometimes wonder if doing right really pays. I mean . . . it just doesn't seem fair."

Mom looked surprised. "What makes you say that?" she asked.

"Well, Chad and Alex and I promised Mrs. Walker that we'd shovel her driveway after school today," Brandon explained, "but then Mr. Gordon offered to pay anyone who would come and help clear his long driveway. Of course, that sounded good to us, and Chad and Alex went and did that instead. Not only did they break their promise, but they also got paid for it!"

"That doesn't seem fair," agreed Mom. "But . . . you know, Brandon, the Bible tells us not to envy those who seem to be rewarded for wrong doing. God sees what's happening, and the day will come when He'll reward those who serve and obey Him."

Dad had been listening from the living room. Now he entered the kitchen with a smile on his face. "I'm proud of what you did today, Son," he said. "I'm sorry to say that I regularly encounter businessmen who seem to benefit by being dishonest or breaking promises, and it sometimes doesn't seem fair to me, either. But it helps to remember that God is fair. We're accountable to Him, and one day we'll be rewarded for continuing to do what is right."

Brandon nodded. He began to feel better about the
situation. "Okay," he said. "If the other guys tell me how much they made this
afternoon, I'll try to remember that my 'pay' is coming
later."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does it seem like others benefit from doing what is wrong? Do you know kids who seem to get away with cheating? Stealing? Lying? They're not really getting away with anything. It only seems that way for a while. But God knows what's going on, and He says to trust in Him. Keep doing what you know is right. He will reward you for it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Key Verse: "Trust in the Lord, and do good." Psalm 37:3

[Soldier4Christ]

"Guess what?" Tim jumped into the back seat of the car. "We have a new exchange student-all the way from China. His name is Ming."

Mom smiled. "Sounds interesting," she said. "Did you get to talk with him?"

Tim nodded. "He's a Buddhist, and he wanted to hear about my God, so I told him. He thought that was cool." Tim frowned. "But I didn't know what to say about his god. Maybe he thought I'd say worshipping Buddha was cool, too."

"Do you think it is?" asked Mom.

"No-o-o," murmured Tim, "but my teacher is always saying we should be tolerant of other people's beliefs. She says that means we should accept and respect them. And wouldn't that be part of loving everyone, like the Bible says we should do?"

"We are to love people, but that doesn't mean we should tolerate wrong beliefs," said Mom. "Total tolerance sounds like a very loving thing, so people assume God would be all for it, but it isn't God's idea; it's the world's." At a traffic light, she pointed to a poster warning against taking drugs. "Take drugs, for instance. Total tolerance would be to allow people to take any drugs they want-and even give them to kids. But love says no. Does that make sense?"

"Sure," said Tim, "but that's because drugs can kill people-or at least make them do stupid things. So it's just common sense to say no to drugs."

"Right," agreed Mom, "so love isn't tolerant regarding taking harmful drugs. Now . . . would God's love be tolerant of a way that leads to death-eternal death? Would He want you to encourage someone in that way?"

Tim shook his head. "No-o-o," he said slowly.

"Love-even when it means correcting someone-is more
important than tolerance," said Mom, "but that often isn't understood in today's
society. We should love people, and it's fine to listen to them, but don't
tolerate ideas that conflict with the truth of God's Word-regarding certain
alternate life styles. for example, or perhaps creation or salvation. When
tolerance means letting someone go on believing lies, lovingly point out what
God says on the subject. Be sure Ming knows that your God loves him, too. Once
he understands that, he might want to hear more."

[Soldier4Christ]

"Guess what?" Tim jumped into the back seat of the car. "We have a new exchange student-all the way from China. His name is Ming."

Mom smiled. "Sounds interesting," she said. "Did you get to talk with him?"

Tim nodded. "He's a Buddhist, and he wanted to hear about my God, so I told him. He thought that was cool." Tim frowned. "But I didn't know what to say about his god. Maybe he thought I'd say worshipping Buddha was cool, too."

"Do you think it is?" asked Mom.

"No-o-o," murmured Tim, "but my teacher is always saying we should be tolerant of other people's beliefs. She says that means we should accept and respect them. And wouldn't that be part of loving everyone, like the Bible says we should do?"

"We are to love people, but that doesn't mean we should tolerate wrong beliefs," said Mom. "Total tolerance sounds like a very loving thing, so people assume God would be all for it, but it isn't God's idea; it's the world's." At a traffic light, she pointed to a poster warning against taking drugs. "Take drugs, for instance. Total tolerance would be to allow people to take any drugs they want-and even give them to kids. But love says no. Does that make sense?"

"Sure," said Tim, "but that's because drugs can kill people-or at least make them do stupid things. So it's just common sense to say no to drugs."

"Right," agreed Mom, "so love isn't tolerant regarding taking harmful drugs. Now . . . would God's love be tolerant of a way that leads to death-eternal death? Would He want you to encourage someone in that way?"

Tim shook his head. "No-o-o," he said slowly.

"Love-even when it means correcting someone-is more
important than tolerance," said Mom, "but that often isn't understood in today's
society. We should love people, and it's fine to listen to them, but don't
tolerate ideas that conflict with the truth of God's Word-regarding certain
alternate life styles. for example, or perhaps creation or salvation. When
tolerance means letting someone go on believing lies, lovingly point out what
God says on the subject. Be sure Ming knows that your God loves him, too. Once
he understands that, he might want to hear more."

[Soldier4Christ]

Bethany laughed as she watched her little brother Shawn playing in the living room. He had climbed up into Dad's favorite chair and was pretending to read the newspaper. As he crossed his feet and tried to make them reach the footstool, he shouted, "Look at me! I'm just like Daddy!"

Bethany couldn't resist giving Shawn a big hug. "Wait right there so we can show Mommy what a big boy you are!" she said.

By the time Bethany returned to the living room with Mom, Shawn had put the paper down on his lap and was pretending to fall asleep. He was even leaning back with his hands behind his head-just like Dad did when he finished reading the paper. "Isn't that cute, Mom?" whispered Bethany giggling. "He's trying to be just like Dad."

Mom nodded. "That's how children learn," she said, smiling. "They imitate the people they see."

"Did I ever do that?" asked Bethany.

"Sure you did," replied Mom. "You used to pretend you were making dinner. You would get the pots and pans out of the cupboard and tell me you were making mashed 'tatoes'!"

Bethany laughed. "That sounds like me," she said. "I still still like to make mashed potatoes."

"I'm reminded of an important lesson in the Bible," continued Mom. "Kids imitate parents and other adults, and God says Christians are to imitate Jesus."

"But we can't see Jesus, so how can we imitate . . ." Bethany began. "Oh, wait a minute! We have the Bible. It tells us how He lived!"

"Yes," agreed Mom. "That's one reason we need to study
it. It tells us how Jesus responded to people. We learn something about His
relationship with God, the Father. We see characteristics of His personality and
how He acted in various situations. As we study His life, we learn how to live
like He did."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Who do you imitate? Are you learning to imitate Jesus? To find out how He would act and what He would say, study God's Word. Then try to think of what Jesus would do if He were in your place in any situation. Imitate Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Be imitators of God as dear children." Ephesians 5:1

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look at that bumper sticker!" Jon pointed ahead. "'Life is short, and then you die," he read. He looked at his mother. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"I don't think it's funny," said Mom. After a moment she added. "It does make a point, though. Remember all the cicada's that were around last summer?"

"Those big bugs that were kind of like grasshoppers, but with big wings?" asked Jon. "The ones that were always making such a lot of noise and bumping into people?"

Mom nodded. "They show up every seventeen years," she said. "I remember they came to my high school graduation party and got into my clothes and in my hair! They live only about six weeks."

"Sounds like that bumper sticker could apply to them," observed Jon. "Their lives are short, and then they die. But you said the bumper sticker makes a point. You didn't mean about cicadas, did you?"

"No." Mom shook her head. "We see cicadas lives as being very short-and they are-but we forget that there's no time in eternity. The way God sees us could be the way we see cicadas," she said. "Take your great-grandmother, for instance. She's ninety years old, but that's only a short time compared with eternity. James 4:14 says, 'What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.'"

"So if a cicada's time on earth looks short to us and our lives on earth look short to God, the bumper sticker is right," said Jon. "We live a short time, then we die and go to heaven."

"Are you sure?" asked Mom seriously.

"I think so," Jon replied.

 "Jon, God the Holy Spirit guided the men who wrote the
Bible," said Mom, "and it tells us there's a way to be sure where we'll go when
we die. Like we said . . . from God's viewpoint, life is short, and then you
die. Make sure you will go to heaven when that happens."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you sure you'll go to heaven when you die? You may be young, but death can come to anyone at anytime. Where will you be after that? You must understand you're a sinner and you can go to heaven only by trusting in Jesus. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Thank Him that you can know you'll see Him in heaven.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:14