Kids Bible Devotional for June 18, 2024
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Focus Verse
James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment. (NKJV)
Jump Start
"You can count on me. I promise.”
It’s easy to count on people to keep a promise when they have shown themselves to be trustworthy. The first broken promise recorded in Scripture – or outright lie, if you prefer – was spoken by the serpent to Eve. He made two promises to Eve 1) if she ate of the fruit, she would not die, and 2) she would like God.
When she and Adam disobeyed God, sin entered in the world. And with it came death. Also, Adam and Eve did not become like God.
God made a promise, too. He said that through their offspring, One would come who would crush the head of the serpent. We know that God was talking about Jesus. After history’s first broken promise, we find the first recorded prophecy about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Isn’t that something?
But how does God feel about our broken promises? After all, God always fulfills His promises. Does He expect the same of us?
Today's Devotion
Earlier in the week, Olivia had a phone call with her friend Sadie, “Sure thing, Sadie. I’ll be there around 3:00 o’clock Saturday. See you then. Bye.” Olivia hung up and handed the cell phone back to her mother.
“What’s happening at 3 o’clock Saturday?” her mother asked.
“I’m meeting Sadie at the library to help her with her history report,” she replied.
Saturday arrived and around 2:45 in the afternoon, Olivia was still lounging in her bed reading a book. Her mother checked in on her. “I thought you were meeting Sadie at the library in fifteen minutes. Why aren’t you ready? I told you I would take you.”
“I talked to her at school on Friday, and she didn’t mention it, so I figured it wasn’t happening. Besides, I just started reading my new book.”
Her mother sat on the edge of the bed. “Did you talk to Sadie about not coming?”
“No, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. If she’s there, I’m she’ll figure it out when I don’t show up.”
“You gave your word to Sadie,” Mom said. “If you don’t live up to your promises, how can people trust you?”
“People break promises to me all the time,” Olivia said. “I don’t let it bother me.”
“But it does bother you, doesn’t it?”
Olivia closed the book. “Sometimes, I guess it does.”
“And how many of these people that break their promises are Christians?”
“None, I guess. Why?”
“Jesus always kept His Word. How much more should we as His children keep ours?”
Olivia set the book on her dresser. “I hadn’t thought about it like that.”
“Give Sadie a call. If she’s still going, you should too. You owe it to her as her friend to keep your word.”
“You’re right,” Olivia said. “I’ll call her now.”
Wrap Up
Christians, above all, should be a people who anyone can count on to stand by their word. James reminds us that we don’t need to swear or make oaths like, “I swear on a stack of Bibles that I’m telling the truth.” Truthfulness and honesty are values God expects of every believer. Our word really is our bond.
Are you a friend who keeps their word?
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