Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 Gift or Garbage

"Do you intend to wear that to school?" Mom's familiar question made Tammy sigh as she came into the kitchen. She said nothing, but sat down and poured herself some cereal, hoping the question would go away. "I want you to change," added Mom.

If Mom had her way, Tammy thought, I'd be dressed like an old lady! Aloud, she said, "I could wear the T-shirt Brenda gave me-the one that says . . ."

"No," her mother interrupted, "that's even worse."

"I thought what's on the inside of a person is supposed to be what counts," muttered Tammy as she went to change. When she returned, she looked around the kitchen. "I'm going to Darcy's birthday party right after school, remember?" she said. "Did someone move the present I got her? I wrapped it before I went to bed last night."

"You got her a pearl necklace, right?" asked Mom.

Tammy nodded. "Yes, and I put it in a box, and then, for a joke, I wrapped it in newspaper and tied it with string. I left it right here by the sink."

"Wrapped in newspaper!" gasped Mom. "I thought it was garbage, and I put it out with the rest of the trash. The garbage man comes today."

Tammy ran for the street and began lifting the lid on first one garbage can, then another. In the distance, she could hear the whine of the approaching garbage truck. At last she found the package and ran back into the house, her hands and shirt soiled with smelly garbage.

"I'm glad you found it," said Mom. "I didn't mean to throw your package out, but the way it was wrapped sent the message that what was inside could not be very valuable."

Tammy nodded. "I see what you mean," she admitted. "I should have put it someplace else or wrapped it differently."

"Now you better go wash up and change your clothes again," said Mom. "And when you change, make sure your 'wrappings' don't give a false message, either. God says you're valuable. He can see inside of you, but nobody else can. Be sure to dress like there's something worthwhile inside."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What does your appearance say? Would Jesus approve of the clothes you wear? Both boys and girls need to be very careful about how they look. It's not necessarily wrong to wear what is popular and in fashion, but be sure your clothes don't mark you as someone who ignores God's standards-as a person who belongs to the world.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

[Soldier4Christ]

 Hot Coals and Bare Feet

"Hi, Mom," said Tiffany as she came into the house.

"Hi, honey," greeted Mom. "What did you do at Leah's?"

"Oh, played a game, worked a puzzle, and . . ." Tiffany hesitated. "We watched a TV show."

"Was it a good one?" asked Mom.

"I thought it would be because the write-up for it sounded good. But it had a lot of fighting and swearing," confessed Tiffany. "Leah wanted to watch it, so I said okay because I was her guest. I figured it wouldn't hurt to watch it once as long as I don't let the bad stuff in it affect me."

"Things like that often affect us more than we think," replied Mom. "Fooling around with sinful things is like playing with fire." She stared out the kitchen window. "I was just thinking of my cousin, Isobel," added Mom. "Have I told you about the time I went with her and her parents on a campout at the lake?"

Tiffany shook her head. "I don't think so," she said. "What happened?"

"Well, Uncle Pete-Isobel's dad-built a bonfire on the beach. After the flames died down, the coals turned gray, and before long the fire seemed to be completely out." Mom shook her head. "Isobel and I were playing, and I was chasing her," continued Mom. "In her effort to get away from me, she ran right over those coals with her bare feet. She hadn't even noticed them. They looked like they were just dead coals, but inside, they were still very hot, and Isobel burned both her feet." Mom sighed. "I still remember how she screamed."

"I can imagine!" exclaimed Tiffany. "That must have really hurt!"

"Yes, it did," said Mom. "You know, there's a verse in Proverbs that says, 'Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?'"

Tiffany nodded. "That's like what happened to Isobel."

"Right," agreed Mom, "but God's warning here isn't just about real fire. That warning also applies to sinful things."

"Like bad TV?" asked Tiffany.

Mom nodded. "Bad TV and many other things are like the gray coals that looked harmless. Sinful things often seem innocent, but sin always harms us."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
What kind of TV programs do you watch? If a program contains violence, swearing, or immoral scenes, do you turn it off? If the characters are immodestly dressed or use God's name wrongly, do you find something else to do? Think about it-how much fire must you touch before you're burned? Treat every sin as though it's a red-hot coal of fire.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? Proverbs 6:28

[Soldier4Christ]

 What's Missing?

When Joey came home after school, he sat down with a heavy sigh. "What's bothering you, Joey?" asked Mom as she added ingredients to the almond bars she was making for dessert. "Did something go wrong at school?"

"No . . . well, not exactly. It's just that I don't seem to be good at anything there," replied Joey. "I'm not good in sports, so I can't make the soccer team-or any other sport team. I can't carry a tune, so I can't join the choir. I'm not good at math or science, either-stuff like that. Other kids have important things to do, but not me."

"What about the help you give Mr. Brown in the library?" asked Mom. "He depends on you to return books to the shelves. That's important. And then there's your after-school Safety Patrol duty. You help the smaller children get to the right buses. You're a good helper."

Joey looked doubtful. "Aw-w-w, Mom, almost all the kids take turns doing those little jobs. They don't count. Anybody can do them."

"It takes responsible kids to do those things, Joey," Mom told him. "I know you'd be greatly missed if you left them for somebody else to do."

For dessert that evening, Mom set a plate of her special almond bars on the table. She picked one up, and when she took a bite, she looked puzzled. "What's missing in these?" she wondered. She took another bite. "Almond!" she exclaimed suddenly. "I forgot to put the almond flavoring in these bars!"

Dad laughed. "So you made almond bars without almond," he teased.

Mom smiled at Joey. "Maybe we can learn from my mistake," she suggested. "Dad, me, and you, Joey-each of us has our own special job to do. If one of us is missing, our job may not get done as well-or even done at all." She held up the dessert bar. "These need only a little flavoring-but it's so important! The tasks God gives us to do are like that. Even those we consider to be 'little jobs' are important, too."

Dad nodded. "That's right," he agreed. "We need to be faithful where God has put us right now."

Joey felt better as he looked at the bars. I'll remember, he promised himself.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you serving God where you are right now? Or do you sometimes think that what you do isn't important enough to be considered service to Him? Today's Scripture points out that it doesn't matter so much which talents you have. The important thing is what you do with them. Even so-called little tasks done for the Lord are important, and He will someday reward you for serving Him. Be faithful when you have a job to do.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much. Luke 16:10

[Soldier4Christ]

 A Good Policeman

"If God is so loving, I don't think He'd send anybody to hell," insisted Seth.

"Well," his friend Patrick began, praying for the right words to say, "the Bible says . . ." A loud outburst of barking interrupted the discussion. The boys jumped up and rushed to the door just in time to see a boy ride out of sight on Seth's new bike. They ran after him, but soon realized it would do no good.

"We need help! Call your dad! He's a cop!" said Seth excitedly.

Seth's mother agreed that calling the police was a good idea, and within a short time, a squad car pulled up to the curb. Patrick's dad got out and lifted a mangled bike from the trunk. Seth's jaw sagged as he recognized the bent frame. "Oh, no!" he exclaimed. "Who did that? Did you catch the guy already?"

Patrick's father nodded. "Yes, Seth," he said, "and he, or his parents, will have to pay for the damage. But right now we need you to help file a report."

As the boys were playing later that day, Patrick remembered Seth's statement that God wouldn't send anyone to hell. "Hey, Seth," said Patrick, "what would you think if my dad had seen that kid steal your bike but refused to do anything about it?"

"Not do anything? That would be wrong!" exclaimed Seth. "He's a policeman. It's his job to do something about it."

"You don't really want that kid to be punished, do you?" asked Patrick.

"Of course I do." Seth stared at his friend. "He stole my bike and ruined it!"

"But you're a nice guy, aren't you?" Patrick asked.

"Well, sure I am, but . . ." Seth stopped. He remembered their earlier discussion, too, and thought he saw where this conversation was going.

"It would be wrong for my dad to just ignore crime," said Patrick, "and even though you're a nice person, you said yourself that a thief should be punished." Then he made his point. "God is holy, and He can't ignore crime-or sin-either. If He did, it would be wrong of Him. Sin needs to be punished."

Seth considered that. "I guess you're right," he said. He knew he'd better give this matter more thought.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find it hard to believe that a loving God could send someone to hell? Do you think everyone will go to heaven? The Bible says that's not true. God is holy, and sin must be punished. Because God is also loving, Jesus came and died on the cross to take the punishment you deserve. He offers you eternal life. If you trust in Him, you will spend eternity with Him. If you refuse Him, you must be punished eternally. Accept Jesus today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The wicked shall be turned into hell. Psalm 9:17

[Soldier4Christ]

 Lesson from a Little Brother

"Little kids are so funny!" Greg was laughing as he came into the kitchen. "Jaden and his friend Bradley are playing war. They're upstairs building a bunker in the bathtub-filling it with pillows. We'd better be careful, Dad! According to them, there are bombers overhead, submarines all around the house, and tanks roaring up the street!"

Dad chuckled. "I see what you mean," he said.

"But get this, Dad!" exclaimed Greg. "I was standing outside the bathroom, and I heard Jaden say, 'Are you going to heaven, Bradley?' And Bradley said, 'I don't know.' Then Jaden said, 'We could die in this battle, and it's real important to know you're going to heaven when you die. So repeat after me!' And, Dad, he led Bradley in a prayer to accept Jesus!"

"That's amazing!" said Dad with a smile. "Good for him!"

"But, Dad! The danger isn't even real!" protested Greg.

"Well, the war they're preparing for in the bathtub certainly isn't real," agreed Dad, "but I'm proud of my little boy who loves his friend enough to want him to be safe . . . even in a bathtub war. Jaden's right-it is important to know you're going to heaven. Remember, too, that any one of us could die at any time."

"That's true," Greg admitted thoughtfully. "I guess I could take a lesson from my little brother. I know I should do a better job of talking to my friends about God." He frowned. "I've invited Stuart to our church youth group, but I don't think I've ever asked him straight out if he's saved. I guess I should talk to him about it, but I'm not sure how to get started."

"Why don't you start by talking to God about it?" Dad suggested. "I'll do that, too. Then come back and we'll see what ideas we can come up with."

Greg nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Dad," he said. He started to leave, then turned back. "But what about Bradley?" he asked. "Do you think he's really saved now?"

"I don't know," said Dad. "If he truly believes in Jesus, he is. I'll talk to him about it and make sure he understands who Jesus is and that he can know he's going to heaven."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know if your friends are going to heaven? Are you certain you're saved yourself? (See the ABCs at the end of this book.) Kids your age expect to live a long time-and probably will. But you can't be certain of that. Make sure your friends know they need Jesus. Let them know you want them to be in heaven with you!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day. Psalm 71:15

[Soldier4Christ]

 Way to Go

"I read a helpful verse in my Bible this morning," said Mom as the family traveled on the second day of their vacation. After she shared her verse, Dad told them what he'd learned in his daily Bible reading.

"What did you read about today?" Mom asked Rick.

"I . . . well . . . actually, I forgot to pack my Bible." Rick squirmed uneasily.

"You may borrow mine," offered Mom. "I have it right here." She held it out to Rick.

"I hate to read in the car," said Rick, refusing the Bible she offered. "Besides, during the short time we're on vacation, I won't forget what the Bible says." His parents exchanged glances but said nothing.

After a while Mom noticed an exit sign. "Isn't this where we turn?" she asked.

"No, I don't think so," said Dad. "Double check with the map." He reached for the map, but it wasn't there. Mom and Rick looked all over the car, but when they couldn't find it anywhere, Mom suggested stopping to buy another. "Let's not take time," said Dad. "I studied the map carefully before we left. I'm sure we need to go farther before leaving this highway."

After traveling a while longer, Dad finally agreed to stop and get another map. When he studied it, he discovered that he was wrong-they should have turned off long before.

Rick sighed when he heard how far out of the way they'd gone. "I wish you had checked the map sooner, Dad," he said as they started back in the direction they had come.

"I do, too," agreed Dad. "Checking a map while you're traveling is better than relying on memory. Try to remember that, and I will, too." After a moment he added, "Traveling down the highway on our vacation reminds me that we're also traveling down the 'highway' of life. The Bible shows us the way we should go-but we have to take time to refer to it regularly."

Mom nodded. "How about it, Rick?" she asked, holding up her Bible again. "Don't you think you better borrow this after all and review God's 'map' to see what instructions He has for you today?"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think you remember all you need to know from the Bible? How much of it do you really know? Do verses or lessons you've learned from God's Word often come to your mind as you go through various experiences throughout the day? Do they help you know the right thing to do when you need to make decisions? God provided a wonderful guide when He gave you the Bible. Don't make excuses for neglecting it. Refresh your memory by reading it regularly.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word. Psalm 119:16

[Soldier4Christ]

Treasures in Heaven

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:33-34 (NIV)

Do you have a piggy bank at home? How often do you put money in it? I know some people who, at the end of each day, put all of the change from their pockets into a piggy bank. It may not be a lot of money, but when you add to it every day, it is amazing how quickly it builds up.

Whether we use a piggy bank or a savings account at the bank, it is a good idea to have a plan to save money for unexpected emergencies or when we want to do something special. One thing we have to be careful of is that the treasure that we are building doesn't become the most important thing in our life. Jesus warned about that in teaching his followers about money. He told them that they should not worry so much about building up treasures on earth, but that they should concentrate on building up treasures in heaven.

Treasures in heaven? How do we build up treasures in heaven? Jesus taught that one way to build up treasures in heaven is to give money to the poor. Can you think of some other ways that we might build up treasure in heaven? I think we build up treasure in heaven when we do things to help others. Things like:

    • Visiting the sick
    • Helping to feed the hungry
    • Being cheerful and thoughtful to someone who is sad
    • Praying for one another
    • Working in a shelter for the homeless
    • Being a friend to someone who is lonely
    • Forgiving someone who has hurt you
    • Saying you're sorry when you hurt someone

All of these are things that we can do here on earth that will be stored up as the "treasures in heaven" about which Jesus spoke. They may not seem like much, but if we do something for someone each and every day, it is amazing how quickly they add up.

Father, we may never have much in the way of earthly treasure, but help us to be faithful each day in building up treasures in heaven. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Give It Back

As church began, Jan was thinking about how she had finally earned enough money for a whole week at Bible camp, plus a few dollars for crafts and treats. For weeks she had been putting every cent she earned into the bank.

Jan's thoughts were interrupted by a nudge on her elbow. The offering was being taken, and it made her feel a little guilty. She hadn't put anything into the offering for quite some time. But my money will be used for camp where I'll be learning more about the Lord, she reasoned, so in a way, it's for Him.

The following Saturday, Jan's Sunday school class had a picnic lunch at their teacher's home. After they had eaten, the girls played with Mrs. Harper's little dog, Pixie. "Watch this," Mrs. Harper said, throwing a ball far across the lawn. Pixie bounced after it, burrowed under the bushes to find the ball, and ran back to drop it into Mrs. Harper's hand. Each time Mrs. Harper threw the ball, Pixie got it and brought it back.

"This game wasn't much fun for either Pixie or me at first," said Mrs. Harper. "When I threw the ball, she'd grab it and run with it. She finally learned to bring it back, but for a while, she wouldn't let go and let me take it."

"Maybe she didn't know you'd let her chase it again," suggested Jan. "Maybe she was afraid the game would be over if she gave up the ball."

Mrs. Harper nodded. "Maybe," she agreed. She looked thoughtful. "I think we're all a little like that sometimes. I know I was." Jan looked at her curiously. "I used to be afraid to give the things I owned to the Lord," explained Mrs. Harper. "For example, I was afraid that if I gave some of my money, I wouldn't have enough left." She smiled. "Pixie learned to trust me and let go of the ball, and I learned to trust the Lord and let go of my money. I learned that the more I give, the more I am blessed and that if I hold on to my possessions, I cheat myself."

Jan was thoughtful. She thought about the money she had saved, and she knew that using it for camp-even though that was a good thing-was not the same as giving it to the Lord. I'll give some tomorrow, she thought. It's not too late. And maybe it's not too late to earn a bit more so that I can have a little extra to spend at camp, too.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been giving God part of the money that comes to you? When you do, you show faith in God-you show that you trust Him to provide for you. Maybe you think whatever you can give is such a small amount that it doesn't matter anyway. It does matter. God doesn't use only large offerings. He also uses the pennies, nickels, and dimes of boys and girls. Giving to God is exciting and rewarding.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
With the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

[Soldier4Christ]

 Diluted or Pure

"Mom, what's wrong with these ice cubes?" asked Ava. "They're all brown!"

Mom glanced at the dark cubes and grinned. "I used iced tea to make those," she explained. "I made them for Grandpa. You know how he loves good, strong iced tea on hot summer days."

"Oh, I get it!" Ava nodded and smiled at her grandfather who was sitting at the kitchen table. She knew he disliked his tea watery and weak, the way it became when too many ice cubes melted in it. She popped several of the brown cubes into a tall glass and poured fresh iced tea over them. "Here you are, Grandpa. Pure tea, unspoiled by ordinary ice cubes."

"Thanks, honey," said Grandpa, taking the tea. "Just the way I like it," he added after enjoying a big swallow. "These ice cubes remind me of a Scripture passage that urges Christians to be pure and undiluted by the world."

Mom and Ava exchanged knowing glances. It seemed to Ava that Grandpa could find a spiritual lesson in almost everything. "The Bible tells us to come away from sinful things and be separated unto God," continued Grandpa. "He says righteousness and unrighteousness don't belong together."

"Why do those ice cubes remind you of that?" asked Ava.

"When you use regular ice cubes, they melt into the iced tea, and it becomes diluted-weak and tasteless," explained Grandpa. "When we allow worldliness-unrighteousness-to come into our lives, it makes our testimony weak and ineffective. Living like the world dilutes our witness for Jesus."

Mom nodded agreement. "There's so much pressure to dress, act, talk, and think like the world," she said. "If we're not careful, we forget that we belong to Jesus, and we begin to 'follow the crowd' and live a weak, diluted life-like those in the world."

Ava nodded. Grandpa and Mom are right, she thought. I'll have to remember the iced tea cubes when I'm tempted to go along with what the other kids are doing even though I know they're wrong.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do things such as selfishness, bad TV, or foul language dilute your testimony? Do you try to dress just like the other kids in your group, even if their clothes are immodest or contain words or pictures God would not approve? Do you try to act like kids whose ways are displeasing to God? Don't pollute your life with impure things. Live a pure life before God and others-a life that backs up your testimony for Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:17

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Dynamite Blast

Ann didn't feel much like going on the class field trip to the rock quarry. She just wanted Mittens, her lost kitten, to come home. And she wanted her daddy to get his job back. But she climbed onto the bus with the rest of the kids.

The quarry superintendent met the bus and handed out hard hats to the class of fourth graders. "We're going to have a dynamite blast today to loosen and break the stone in the quarry," he said, motioning to the other side of a large pit. A loud horn blared. "Before the blast, the horn gives three warnings," the superintendent explained after it sounded again. "We blow it one time after the blast to let everyone know it's safe to come near." The horn blared for the third time. After a moment-BOOM! A loud explosion startled the children. They watched the far side of the pit break up and rise into the air, sending dust and rocks flying in the distance. When the "all clear" horn sounded, the superintendent allowed them to move closer so they could see what had happened. He also pointed out the men who controlled the operation and set off the blasts.

When Ann got home, she picked up a picture of her cat as she told her mother about the quarry trip. "Sometimes I feel like everything's falling apart here at home, too," said Ann sadly.

Mom nodded. "When difficult things happen and make us feel like our comfortable little world is blowing to pieces, maybe we should think about the workers at the quarry," she suggested.

"The workers?" asked Ann. "Why them?"

"They made sure the blasts were safe and controlled, right?" asked Mom. Ann nodded. "They can remind us that someone is in control of our lives, too-God is. Nothing can happen to us unless He permits it. He's with us through every experience we face, and we're always safe in His loving arms."

"But I don't see why He lets bad things happen-like Mittens getting lost and Daddy losing his job," said Ann.

"Well, just like the stone company profits from the explosions at the quarry, we can profit from the things that seem like explosions in our lives-the troubles we face," replied Mom. "As we trust God through the rough circumstances, He teaches us needed lessons and helps us grow spiritually."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you having a rough day? Have difficult or sad things happened to you recently? Always remember that God is in complete control. He's be with you through the hard situations you have to face, and He'll use them to teach you important lessons. As you trust Him, He'll use both happy times and difficult times to strengthen you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Chicken and the Eagle

Melissa curled up on the couch with her new storybook. "Are you enjoying your book?" asked Mom.

"Oh, yes," said Melissa. "I've just finished a story about a baby eagle who thought he was a little chick."

"Why did he think that?" asked her brother Luke, curiously.

"Well, when he was still inside an egg, the egg was stolen and taken to the henhouse," Melissa informed him. "The hen didn't know it wasn't one of hers, and she sat on it with the rest of her eggs. After the egg was hatched, she brought him up exactly like one of her chicks."

"Someone should've told him he was an eagle," said Luke at once.

"Someone did tell him!" said Melissa quickly. "The wise old owl who lived near the farm told him he was an eaglet-and that he could fly high in the sky like the great eagle-but he didn't believe it. He just kept on living like a chicken almost until the day he died."

"That was dumb of him!" pronounced Luke. "He could have soared in the skies, and all he did was scratch the dirt!"

"We do that sometimes, too," remarked Mom.

"We scratch in the dirt?" asked Melissa doubtfully. "I don't do that."

"Me, neither." Luke shook his head.

"Not literally," agreed Mom, "but like that eagle, we often fail to live up to our potential. The Bible says we once were all slaves to sin. Then Jesus came to redeem us and set us free from the power of sin."

"Does that mean we don't have to sin anymore?" asked Melissa thoughtfully.

"That's right," agreed Mom, "but like that little eagle who lived the life of a chicken, we often choose to live as though we can't help doing wrong things. That's more foolish than he was, don't you think?" Melissa and Luke nodded. "We've been set free and don't need to be ruled by sin any longer," added Mom. "We should enjoy 'soaring' with Jesus-enjoying fellowship with Him and experiencing the peace and blessings only He can give."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
If you know Jesus as Savior, are you trusting Him for power to keep you from sin? Never use the excuse that you just couldn't help doing something wrong! When you're tempted to sin, immediately ask God to help you say no-to help you refuse to do it. Thank Him that, as one of God's children, you have His power available to you, and you don't have to commit sin anymore.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

[Soldier4Christ]

 Ocean of Love

It was a beautiful day for a picnic at the beach, and the Parker family spread out a tablecloth and put up sun umbrellas in their favorite spot. Then Gina and Carrie dashed for the water, but Phillip looked fearfully at the waves. "The water is so rough today," he murmured.

"Oh, come on in," called Gina. "The waves are fun. Don't be so scared."

But Phillip shook his head. He sat down on the beach and began to build a sand castle. "Dad . . ." he began hesitantly. He paused. His voice trembled as he added, "I feel awful inside. I don't think God loves me anymore."

"God has never quit loving you for a minute in your whole life," Dad assured him. "What makes you think He has?"

"Well, my Sunday school verse was, 'Keep yourselves in the love of God.' That must mean I have to do stuff to keep God loving me, but I don't think I've done that," replied Phillip. He looked at the ground. "I'm sure I haven't. Like, I . . . I lied to you and Mom one day last week, remember?"

"Yes, but you confessed that to us," said Dad, "and we forgave you. When you confess your sin to God, He forgives you, too. And you can be sure God has never quit loving you." Dad waved a hand toward the ocean. "God's love is something like the ocean," he added. "Just think of how much water there is out there, but you're not enjoying any of it. Why not?"

"Because the waves are so big," answered Phillip, "and they scare me."

"Exactly, so you're not in it," agreed Dad. "Your fear of the big waves keeps you from enjoying the water. Unconfessed sin and failure to trust in what God says will keep you from enjoying the love of God. But His love for you is there, just as it's always been."

"But what about that verse?" asked Phillip.

"The Bible doesn't say, 'Keep God loving you,'" replied Dad. "It says, 'Keep yourselves in the love of God.' His love is there for you. To enjoy it, do the things God loves-live the way He wants you to live."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you wondered if God still loves you? Perhaps you've cheated, stole something, lied, had bad thoughts, or allowed some other sin to come into your life. God always loves you, but sinning will keep you from enjoying His love. Make things right with Him and with others and enjoy the love that is there for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
Keep yourselves in the love of God. Jude 21

[Soldier4Christ]

 Let's Not Find Out

"It smells like smoke in here," said April, holding her nose as she entered her aunt's home one evening. She had come to stay with her Aunt Maria while her parents made a hospital call.

"A friend of mine smokes, and she visited this afternoon," Aunt Maria explained. "I didn't open the windows, because there are no screens on them, but I have the door open. I was hoping the room would air out before you got here, but it needs more time."

April plopped onto the couch. "Aunt Maria, did you ever smoke?" she asked.

"No," Aunt Maria said. "I never tried it. I never wanted to."

"Not even when you were a kid?" April challenged. "Didn't you wonder what it would be like?" A couple of times, some of the kids at school had tried to persuade her to smoke. She hadn't tried it, but sometimes she wondered what it was like. "Just trying it wouldn't hurt, would it?" she added.

Aunt Maria frowned. "Why don't we open the windows after all?" she suggested. "I'd like some fresh air in here."

"But you said you didn't have screens," protested April in surprise. "Bugs will come in, especially with the lights on now."

"Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a few bugs in here," replied Aunt Maria. "Maybe they wouldn't even come in much. I don't know. I haven't tried it before. Why don't we find out?"

"Let's not find out!" objected April. "Mosquitoes love me. They always eat me up."

"Well, I think maybe you're right-it would be better not to find out. Bugs don't belong in here." Aunt Maria paused. "It's also better to not find out what cigarette smoking is like," she added positively. "The contents in cigarettes don't belong in our bodies. They harm our internal organs. We should be even more determined to keep harmful substances out of our bodies than we are to keep bugs out of the apartment, don't you agree?"

April hesitated. "I guess that's true," she admitted after a moment. "I really don't like the smell of smoke anyway." She grinned as she added, "I guess you could say it 'bugs' me!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been tempted to use drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol? Ask God to help you say no when anyone tries to persuade you to use such substances. Honor Him by using only the many, many healthy foods and treats He's given you to enjoy. Have you been tempted to take part in activities where God is not honored? There are many enjoyable things in which you, as God's temple, can participate. Don't even try those that displease Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:17

[Soldier4Christ]

 Stones and Feathers

"Hey, look at that, Cody!" Nathan pointed out the car window to a big crane. "Mom, can we stop and watch?"

"Okay," agreed Mom, and she pulled over. Nathan, his friend Cody, and Mom watched as the crane lifted a golden statue to the top of the courthouse.

Cody pointed to the statue. "Why is she blindfolded?" he asked.

"And what's that in her hand?" added Nathan.

"That's a statue of Lady Justice," said Mom. "She's blindfolded to show that justice shouldn't be influenced by who people are nor by how rich they are. She's holding a balance scale. It represents fairness. Both sides of the scale have to hold equal amounts. If a wrong is committed, the penalty has to balance the crime."

"Balance the crime?" asked Nathan. "What does that mean?"

"The crime is on one side of the scale, and if the right penalty is on the other, they balance," explained Mom. "Say someone steals a CD. To balance that, he'd have to pay for it, or give it back, and probably pay a fine for doing wrong."

"I get it!" said Nathan.

Cody looked thoughtful. "Is that how it works with God, too?" he asked. "My sister says He's keeping track of all the bad things I do, and I'll have to pay someday. If I do lots of good things, will it balance out?"

"People often think that's how it works," Mom replied, "but all our good deeds can never be enough to balance the wrong things we do. The Bible says that what we do wrong is 'sin'-and sin puts a lot of weight in the bad side of the scale."

"Yeah. It's like our sins are a pile of stones," said Nathan, "and our good deeds are like feathers. We can't put enough feathers on the scale to balance the stones."

"So how can we make it even?" asked Cody.

"We can't," said Mom, "but Jesus can. He died to take the punishment for our sins, and if we believe in Him, He puts His goodness on the scale for us."

Nathan grinned. "His goodness does more than balance the scale. It knocks our sins right off, so it's like we never sinned, right, Mom?"

"That's what the Bible teaches," said Mom with a smile.

"Wow!" exclaimed Cody. "Then that's what I want!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you do good things to try to make up for bad things you've done? Whatever you do to apologize for failing to do what is right may balance your account with other people. But you can never do enough good things to balance your account with God. Today's verse can be applied to all people who aren't trusting in Jesus-it can be applied to you if you don't know Him. Trust in Jesus and receive His goodness in place of your sin. (See the ABCs at the end of this book.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Daniel 5:27

[Soldier4Christ]

The Dividing Line

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three." Luke 12:51-52 (NIV)

In many places, it is back-to-school time again. Are you ready for school to start? I always liked school, do you? What is your favorite subject? Math? Reading? History? When I was in school, my favorite subject was recess. That was when we got to go outside and play! Many times we played a game that required that we divide the class into two teams. There were different ways to divide into teams. Sometimes we would line up and number off, "1-2-1-2-1-2" and the "ones" would be on one team and the "twos" on the other.

In our every day life, we are often divided into different groups. We may be divided by size, by age, by the color of our hair, or by our likes and dislikes. I have put a piece of tape down on the floor and we are going to try several different ways of dividing into two different groups. (You may adapt the following choices to fit your own situation.)

What flavor of ice cream do you like better, vanilla or chocolate? If you like vanilla ice cream better, stand on this side of the line (Point to one side.) and if you like chocolate better, stand on this side. (Point to the other side.) Very good! We are just about evenly divided on that question.

Do you like football or baseball better? If you like football better, stand on this side of the line (Point.) and if you like baseball better, stand on this side. (Point.)

What kind of music do you like? Rock-and-roll or hip-hop? If you like rock-and-roll music better, stand on this side of the line and if you like hip-hop better, stand on this side.

As you see, we don't all think the same way or like the same things, do we? One time Jesus said that he was going to be the cause of division among the people. What did he mean? He meant that even though he came to die on the cross to save the whole world, there would be some who would not believe. He wanted everyone to follow his teachings and be on his team, but he knew it wasn't going to be that way. There would be some who would follow, and others who would not.

If I were to say to you, "Everyone who loves Jesus and wants to follow him, come stand on this side of the line," I'm sure that everyone here would come and stand on this side of the line. That would make Jesus very happy, but sadly, that is not always true. There are some who love and follow Jesus, and some who do not. Jesus said that even in the same family they would be divided. That makes Jesus very sad and it makes us sad too. That is why we should tell others the good news that Jesus loves them so that they might choose to be on his side too.

Jesus, we love you and we want to follow you day by day. Help us to tell others that you love them too, and that you died for them, so that they might choose to follow you too. Amen.