Turn It On

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: James 1:21-27

"What time was it when you put dinner in the oven, Dad?" asked Liam. "I'm hungry! It seems like we've been waiting a long time for that lasagna to be ready, but I don't even smell it yet."

"I don't either," said Dad. He glanced at his watch. "The recipe said it would need to bake about an hour." Dad got up and went to the kitchen. "Oh no!" he exclaimed. "The button on the oven must have gotten stuck again--the oven didn't turn on! Looks like dinner won't be ready for a while."

"But Dad, I'm starving!" groaned Liam.

"I'm sorry. Let's have an apple while we wait." They each chose a shiny red apple.

"This reminds me of what Pastor Grey said at church last week," Dad remarked as he and Liam bit into their apples. "Do you remember what he told us?"

Liam nodded. "He said we often take in God's Word, but we don't apply it to our lives. But what's that got to do with the oven and our lasagna?"

"Well, we learn about God by going to church and reading the Bible. God's Word tells us how amazing He is and how we can have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus, who died and rose again to save us from sin. It also tells us how to live as His people so others can see His love in our lives. But if we hear what the Bible says but don't put it into practice, it's like we don't turn God's truth on in our lives. The knowledge just sits there--cold, like our lasagna. We need to do what the Bible says. The first thing we must do is trust in Jesus so He can fill our lives with His peace, love, and joy. Otherwise we're left--"

"Hungry," Liam finished with a frown. "Like I am now!"

"Spiritually hungry," said Dad. "And we can't continue to put God's words into practice by being kind and loving and unselfish toward others when we're spiritually hungry."

"Yeah," said Liam. "I have trouble doing those things when I'm physically hungry!"

Dad laughed. "Then it's a good thing I can smell the lasagna cooking!"

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Have you heard Bible stories and learned verses at church? Do you listen to the message they give and apply it to your life? Or do you forget about them the moment you leave church? If you don't apply what they teach you, they can't do you any good. Listen to the truth God gives in the Bible and then trust Him to help you put it into practice.
Today's Key Verse:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV) (James 1:22 )
Today's Key Thought:
Apply God's truth to your life