Kids Bible Devotional for May 23, 2024
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Focus Verse
Proverbs 5:1-2 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. (NKJV)
Jump Start
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you."
Recognize that statement? It’s the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 7:12. We refer to this commandment as the “Golden Rule”.
Notice, Jesus didn’t say do to others as they have done to you. Rather, we do unto others as we would like to be treated. We all want to be treated with compassion and respect.
According to Jesus, within the Golden Rule beats the heart of all Jewish law and the prophets. What did He mean by this? To answer this, let’s flip to another passage of Jesus found in Matthew 22. When asked by the Pharisees what is the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus replied, “First, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ Second, love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
In other words, how we treat each other reflects the depth of our love that we have for people. We show them love when we are kind, courteous, and respectful, regardless of how they treat us in return. Obviously, we need Jesus to help us in this area.
Today’s devotion addresses kindness to the outsider, particularly with regards to one’s attitude and speech.
Today's Devotion
Jessica was so excited about her birthday party. She and her mom had planned a sleepover filled with games, giggles, and lots of junk food. They had invited all her friends from church and school.
The girls began to trickle in around the time the party was scheduled to start. The atmosphere within the house filled with laughter and joyful chatter. After all the guests that had been invited had arrived, Jessica was surprised when she heard the doorbell ring. She eyed the door carefully as her mother went to answer it. A moment later, Tori walked into the house.
Tori was not popular at school and had few friends. When she entered, the den where the girls had gathered grew eerily quiet. All eyes fixed on the new arrival.
“Who invited her?” whispered Terri into Jessica’s ear. Jessica just shrugged.
The shy girl shuffled awkwardly past Jessica’s mom; head bowed. Mom turned to Jessica with a pleading gaze as if to say, “Get over here and make your guest feel welcomed.”
Jessica sprang to her feet and rushed to Tori. “Oh, Tori, I’m so glad you came to my party.” She took her by the hand and led her to the couch. Tori leaned into Jessica. “I’m sorry, I didn’t bring you a gift.”
“Your being here is gift enough,” Jessica said, smiling. Tori’s face lit up. The other girls noticed Jessica’s enthusiasm and joined in greeting Tori.
Later that evening, Jessica came into the kitchen to help her mother with the snacks. She glided up to her mother and asked, “Did you invite Tori?”
Her mother nodded. “Yes, I did. I ran into Tori’s mom at the store yesterday. She talked about how sad Tori was for not having been invited. I told her it must have been an oversight, and that she was more than welcome.”
Jessica glanced up at Tori who was happily playing the Pie in Your Face game with several of the other girls. Jessica rested her head on her mother’s shoulder. “I’m really glad you did.”.
Wrap Up
More than likely, your parents have taught you the importance of respecting others. It’s your job to put those lessons into action. How you treat people not only reflects your character but it’s also a reflection of Jesus to the world. As Christians, we may not always agree with what some people believe or how they act, but Jesus teaches us to love everyone.
You can memorize all the do’s and don’ts in the Bible, but they all boil down to one thing – love. Love is the guiding principle that informs our behavior, our decisions, and our speech.
How’s your love for others?
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