Choose Music and TV that Honors God

Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for December 17, 2007
TITLE: Jalapeno Christian?
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:9-11
AUDIO: listen here
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
"Come on, Mom," pleaded Holt. "I just need to download this one song. Everyone at school is listening to it. It's really important that I have it."
"Are the words appropriate?" asked Mom.
"No!" Holt's sister Holly answered for him. "They're ba-a-ad!"
Holt scowled at her. "Most of them are okay," he insisted. "I'll turn down the volume and won't listen to the ones that are bad." But Mom shook her head, and Holly grinned. Scowling, Holt stormed off to his room.
For supper, Mom ordered pizza-their usual order of one cheese pizza, with jalapenos on half of it. When it was delivered, they paused to thank God. Then Holt opened the box and couldn't believe what he saw. "They put jalapenos over the entire pizza!" he exclaimed in dismay.
"Oh, no," groaned Holly. "What can Holt and I eat now?"
"Why don't you just pick off the jalapenos?" suggested Dad.
"Pick them off?" Holt grunted. "Even if you get all of the jalapenos off you can still taste them. The juice gets through the whole thing, and it's ruined!"
"That makes me think of the music you've been wanting," said Mom. "The tiny bit of jalapeno juice is like a 'few words' that aren't good in a song. So how would they affect the whole song for us?"
"It . . . it . . . well, it . . ." murmured Holt.
"I know," said Holly. "They ruin the whole thing!"
"You've got it," agreed Mom. "So do you think God would want you to listen to the song you've been begging to download, Holt?"
Holt was quiet for a moment, then he spoke slowly. "I guess not," he admitted.
"We need to honor God in all things-even the music we listen to," said Dad. "We don't want to be 'jalapeno juice Christians,' right?"
Holt nodded, and Holly laughed. "Jalapeno juice Christians? That's funny," she said. She turned to her mother. "But what can we eat, Mom?"
Mom smiled. "Maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" she suggested.
"Sounds good," said Holt as Holly jumped up to get the peanut butter.
MEMORY VERSE: Approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense. Philippians 1:10
HOW ABOUT YOU? Are you careful about your choice of music-as well as your choice of reading or TV listening? Don't be a "jalapeno juice Christian"-one who goes along with a little wrong action or a few bad words in order to fit in with others. God wants to enjoy fellowship with you in every part of your life. Pray for help in making wise choices in all your activities. Make a decision today to be a "100% Christian."
THE KEY: Choose music that honors God