Kids Bible Devotional for July 25, 2024
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Focus Verse
James 3:10-11 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? (NKJV)
Jump Start
Recognize this sound? Bleep!
The sound could mean many things. For example, if you’re listening to the radio, it could be a test of the emergency broadcast system. If you’re watching a video, or the news, or listening to a song, it’s the sound used by censors to block out naughty words.
Sadly, our society is inundated with dirty dialog. You hear it in all sorts of entertainment sources, such as movies, videos, video games, and music. It’s prevalent in schools, homes, family gatherings, restaurants, stores, and workplaces. Just about any place there are people – especially those who do not know the Lord – swearing is probably heard. It’s hard to escape.
But what does God think about swearing? That’s what we will cover in today’s devotion.
Today's Devotion
Eli spotted Jason and Thomas at the swing set during recess. He felt uncomfortable around them sometimes because they used a lot of curse words, but there were no other kids for him to hang out with at school.
Jason called out to him as he approached. “Man, it’s about time you came out. We thought Mr. Libby had thrown you into detention or something.”
Eli leaned against a pole. “Nah! He just wanted me to run a note to the office.”
Jason nodded to a red-headed girl on the playground. He and Thomas made several cruel jokes about her. Eli tried to block it out, but their words burned in his ears.
As Eli walked home, he kept thinking about what Jason and Thomas said about that girl. Their foul words played over and over in his mind, eating away at him like a dog with a bone. He knew that his parents, being Christians, did not talk that way around him.
He arrived home to find his mother in a foul mood. “There you are!” she said sternly. “I want you to get into that room right now and clean it up! You should be ashamed of yourself. It’s a pigsty.”
Eli strolled to his room and froze at the door. His mother had gone throughout the house and collected all the items he failed to pick up and tossed them into the middle of his bedroom floor. There were toys, shoes, books, papers, and clothes.
Anger boiled inside of him. Before he realized it, he spurted out a curse word. One of the words he often heard Jason and Thomas speak.
“Ah! I heard that!” his mother shouted. “You just wait until your father gets home.”
He felt just as filthy as that heap of mess in the middle of his room. No matter how hard he tried, he could not block out the foul language his friends used. They were seared into his brain and now they seeped out his mouth.
“I need new friends,” he whispered to himself.
Wrap Up
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that bad company corrupts good morals. This means that the friends we keep can affect our attitude and behavior. This is why Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This doesn’t mean we cannot be friends with people who don’t know Jesus. In fact, we need friends like these so we can show them the love of Jesus.
Rather, we must be careful with who we let influence our lives. We should surround ourselves with people who lift us up and encourage us in the Lord. We should also choose wholesome entertainment. This is why church and fellowship with believers are so important. You are the salt and light to the earth. You reflect Jesus in everything you do. And say.
Our theme verses explain that sweet and bitter waters cannot flow from the same fountain. Be a fountain of sweetness. Let your words be pleasing to the Lord.
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