All of the Bible is Important

Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for December 15, 2007
TITLE: Mature Tastes
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 13:11
AUDIO: listen here
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
"Mom, my Sunday school teacher says we should read some verses from the Bible every day," said Paula, "but I think it's just too hard for me to read. It has so many hard words, and some of it isn't very interesting."
"Some parts may be difficult for you," agreed Mom as they began to set the table for dinner, "but there are plenty of verses you can read and understand."
"But not as easily as I could understand a Bible storybook," insisted Paula. "Can't I just read that instead?" Then she frowned as she looked at the table. "Do we have only white bread? I like wheat bread better."
Mom smiled as she got out the wheat bread. "Remember when you were little and white bread was the only kind you wanted?" she asked.
Paula nodded. "Back then I didn't like many things at all," she said. "I didn't even like ham or steak-just soft stuff, like bologna and hot dogs."
"Right." Mom grinned. "I'm glad your tastes have matured. Natural foods and things like this wheat bread are so much better for you." A moment later she added, "I think the same principle applies to God's Word, honey. When you were little, we read the Bible out loud to you and explained all the hard words. We skipped doctrinal passages and stuck to stories like David and Goliath, or Daniel in the lions' den."
"I know," said Paula. "I still like those stories."
"Well, I'm sure there are many things about them that you haven't learned yet," said Mom, "so it's good to go over them again. But now you're ready for other things, too. When you read only the 'easy' parts of the Bible, you miss a lot of important truths God has for you. The stories in your Bible storybook may be easier to 'chew'-like soft foods-but if that's all you read, you'll miss a lot of the nourishment God has for you in His Word." Mom pulled a roast out of the oven. "Your dad and I will be glad to help you understand anything you find too hard," she added, "and don't forget that you have the Holy Spirit to help you, too."
MEMORY VERSE: Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18
HOW ABOUT YOU? Are some words or ideas in the Bible hard for you to understand? It's true that there are difficult passages in the Bible, but all of it is important. When you read it, ask God to open your spiritual "eyes" to understand His truths. Ask parents or teachers to explain the verses you don't understand. Be patient, and as you grow older, you'll develop a more "mature taste" and find that the challenging parts of God's Word have important lessons for you.
THE KEY: All of the Bible is important