"Dad, Carrie says we're supposed to keep the Sabbath Day holy, and she says that's Saturday, not Sunday," said Abbie. "She's wrong, isn't she?" "She's right about the Old Testament Sabbath being the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday," said Dad, "but the Bible gives evidence that New Testament believers met on the first day of the week." "Why did they change?" asked Abbie. "Because Jesus rose from the grave on Sunday," Dad explained. "When we meet on Sunday, we're celebrating His resurrection and the new life we have in Him. That's why we call it the Lord's day." "Oh. Well, I'll tell Carrie," said Abbie as she left the room. But Abbie was a deep thinker, so in a few minutes she returned. "Dad, do we have to remember the Lord's Day to keep it holy like the Ten Commandments say to keep the Sabbath?" Dad smiled. "We don't live in Old Testament culture anymore," he said, "but I believe that a day of rest is a principle God established. When He created the world, He rested on the seventh day. I believe it's good for us to also keep a day special for God." "Madeline and her family don't do that," said Abbie. She frowned. "They had a picnic at the beach last Sunday, and they went swimming!" she added accusingly. "Now hold on!" Dad said firmly. "The way a person spends the Lord's Day is between himself and God. The fourteenth chapter of Romans talks about that, and it says we shouldn't judge others on these matters. There are things that I believe our family should save for other days of the week, but God doesn't really give any rules about that." Abbie looked solemnly at her father. "Okay," she said after a moment. "I'll remember why you won't let us do some things on Sunday--it's our day of rest and our way of keeping that day special for the Lord." How About You? Do you set aside Sunday to worship and honor your Lord? Are there some things you don't do because you wish to honor God rather than please yourself? You may choose to honor Him by having a nap or taking a walk. Maybe, like many people, you meet to worship God and study His Word with other believers. Perhaps you enjoy fellowship as you visit friends or family after church. Be careful not to judge others, but why not make each of your Sundays a special day to honor your Lord? Today's Key Verse: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8) Today's Key Thought: Keep a special day for God

As Marc flipped through channels on the TV, he paused to watch a comedian. A minute later, he laughed out loud. Looking up from his newspaper, Dad frowned. "Marc, that man keeps using the name of God. How can you laugh when people use God's name in vain like that?" he asked. "I'm not laughing at that," said Marc. "I'm just laughing at the joke he . . ." Dad shook his head. "You seem to have forgotten that God's name is holy. It should not be used lightly, and it should displease us when others misuse it." "I know, Dad," Marc replied soberly. "I wish they didn't swear on TV, but I'm just a kid. What can I do about it?" "You can change the channel," said Dad. Mom nodded. "You could also inform the TV station and those who sponsor the program that you turned it off, and tell them why. We should all do that sort of thing more often." Marc frowned but turned off the TV. Several days later, Marc returned home from a youth group gathering. "Hey, Mom," he said as he grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. "Look what you started. I told some kids at church about turning off the TV and telling the program sponsors why. Now a bunch of us kids are doing what you said I should do. We're writing TV stations and saying we don't like the bad language used on shows. We went online and emailed the sponsors to tell them we don't like all the swearing." "Great!" exclaimed Mom. "Can I tell them our family will quit buying the products if they continue to sponsor these kinds of shows?" Marc asked. "You sure can," said Mom, "but give me a list so I know who you wrote to and what I shouldn't buy. I'm proud of you--and I'm sure your campaign will be effective." "I hope so," said Marc, "but like our youth pastor said, even if the companies keep advertising during these shows, at least it reminds us that God won't stand for His name being used in vain and that we shouldn't, either." How About You? Have you heard people thoughtlessly use God's name so often that it doesn't even bother you anymore? It still bothers God! When friends use God's name in vain, do you ask them not to do that? Perhaps you could begin a campaign of your own to promote cleaner language on TV. And be sure to turn the TV off when God's name is misused. Today's Key Verse: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (Exodus 20:7) Today's Key Thought: Do not use God's name lightly

"Abbie!" exclaimed Mom one day. "You look in the mirror so often lately that you make me want to take all the mirrors off the walls!" "I just want to look my best," protested Abbie, "and I like this new way to do my hair!" "I do, too," agreed Mom, "but looking at yourself in the mirror is getting to be a bad habit!" Abbie sighed, gave her hair a final pat, and picked up a book. Abbie was again admiring herself in the hall mirror when Marc came in the house. "Why are you forever looking at yourself? You don't look that great," he teased her. Abbie made a face. "Oh, be quiet," she said. "You know what?" said Marc. "The Bible says we're not to make idols or images of anything and worship them as gods. I think that means we aren't supposed to worship our own images, either." Abbie felt herself blushing. "I don't do that," she protested. "If I did, it would be more like having another god rather than an idol. I think the verse you're talking about is just saying we're not supposed to make idols of wood or stone and worship them." "I think it includes more than that--doesn't it, Mom?" Marc appealed to their mother who had overheard their conversation. "I've heard of people who believe it's not good to even have pictures of Jesus--or especially statues of Him. Or religious statues of any kind." "That's true," agreed Mom. "I think they feel that way because people do sometimes bow down before such things. Along with the carved images mentioned in both Exodus and the book of Deuteronomy, we're specifically told not to worship the sun, moon, or stars." "See, Abbie? I'm right and you're wrong," said Marc smugly. "And I still think those verses could include not worshiping your own image." Mom frowned. "I think you're forgetting something, Son," she said. "We all have failings of various kinds, and you need to be on guard against your own rather than those of someone else." How About You? Do you have idols? Perhaps not of the kind described in the Ten Commandments, but think about it. Do you have any object that you prize very highly and you would be unreasonably upset if it were lost? Also, be careful to not confuse man-made statues or pictures of Jesus with Jesus Himself. God will not share His glory with anything. Be careful to worship only Him. Today's Key Verse: You shall not make for yourself a carved image . . . shall not bow down to them nor serve them. (Exodus 20:4-5) Today's Key Thought: Worship God only

"Who remembers the first commandment?" asked Dad, closing his Bible after reading the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 for family devotions one evening. "Let's hear it." Marc and Abbie looked at one another, each trying to come up with it first. "Ah-h-h . . ." they both murmured. Then . . . "I know!" said Marc triumphantly. "Don't have other gods." Dad nodded. "Do we keep that commandment," he asked, "or do we have other gods?" "We don't have other gods," said Abbie, "but people in some countries do. Maybe there are even some in this country who make idols and worship them." "Yeah," said Marc, "but my Sunday school teacher says not having other gods is a little different than having idols. He says it means that nothing is supposed to be more important to us than God." He grinned at his sister. "Like . . . you girls always seem to think that having the latest style clothes is the most important thing in the world." Marc put his hands over his face. "Oh, boo-hoo! I don't have a thing to wear. All my stuff is so old-fashioned," he whined in a high pitched voice, imitating his sister. Mom spoke up. "I remember a boy who insisted he needed a certain brand name on a shirt when we went shopping the other day," she said mildly. "Yeah, Marc, and what about sports?" asked Abbie, glaring at her brother. "Lots of boys--including you--put sports ahead of everything else. Lots of you guys even think it's okay to stay home from church to watch sports stuff, like the Super Bowl game." "Whoa!" exclaimed Dad. "We're missing the point if we start looking at the choices other people make. Let's each just think of our own habits and interests and make sure we're not putting anything in the place that belongs to God. A good thing to ask ourselves might be, 'Is there something I'm not willing to give up?'" "Yes," said Mom. "If there is, we may be putting that thing ahead of God." "Let's pause a few minutes and examine our lives to see if we have any other god," suggested Dad. "Then I'll pray and close our devotions time tonight." How About You? Have you allowed something in your life to take first place over God? It could be a hobby, a TV show, money, good grades, the way you look, certain friends--anything you put ahead of God in your thoughts and devotion. Even good things become wrong if you allow them to become gods in your life. Always put God in first place. Today's Key Verse: You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3) Today's Key Thought: Give God first place

"I do, too!" exclaimed Toby as he and his sister put dishes away. "No, you don't," declared Meg. "I do." Dad, who had just come into the room, frowned and gave Meg a questioning look. "I know more Bible verses than Toby does," Meg informed him. "Are you in some kind of contest?" asked Dad. "I wish we were!" said Meg. "I'd win all the prizes!" "Would not! I won prizes in our contest last year," boasted Toby. "So?" sneered Meg. "I won prizes, too. I won more . . ." "Hold it!" said Dad. "Let's see if you've really won anything important. Can you quote Psalm 133:1? Did you learn that verse?" Toby and Meg hesitated. "How good . . ." began Toby, and Meg quickly joined in, ". . . and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Each tried to finish first. Dad nodded. "That's right--but it doesn't sound as if you won anything by learning that verse. There doesn't seem to be much unity here this afternoon," he said. "I don't think you really win unless the verses you memorize help you behave in the way God wants you to." Meg blushed and Toby looked at the floor. "Can you think of some verses that have helped you?" asked Dad. "Well . . . when we had that bad storm the other night, I remembered that even storms obey Jesus," said Meg. "That made me less afraid." "I was thinking of ways to get even with Jed after he was mean to me the other day," said Toby, "and then I remembered the verse that says God repays, so I just let it go. And when a nasty story the guys told popped into my mind, I remembered the verse that says to think on good things, so I did." "There's a new girl in my class," said Meg. "I wasn't sure what to say to her, but a verse I learned says we should be kind, so I invited her to play with us." Dad had a big smile on his face now. "I think you've both won something important by memorizing verses after all," he said. "When you use the verses, you're pleasing God and really winning." He grinned as he added, "And don't forget Psalm 133:1!" How About You? Do you learn Bible verses just so you'll know the most or win a prize? Or do you memorize them to hide God's Word in your heart and mind? Do you learn them so you'll know what to do in certain situations? Do you use the verses in your everyday activities? You'll please God if you not only know His Word by memory, but glorify Him as you keep it close to your heart and live according to what it says. Today's Key Verse: I will keep Your statutes. (Psalm 119:10) Today's Key Thought: Use the verses you've memorized