Limit Physical and Mental Junk Food

Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for January 4, 2008
TITLE: Junk Food
SCRIPTURE: Read: Psalm 119:33-40
AUDIO: listen here
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
"Uh-oh! I've gotta get home, Brad!" exclaimed Jerry. "It's dinner time. I was having so much fun that I didn't watch the clock." He reached toward the bowl of potato chips on the table. "Thanks for the snacks. Bye!"
Brad grinned. "Bye," he said. "See you tomorrow." Jerry nodded and stuffed the chips into his mouth as he dashed out the door.
At the dinner table, Jerry put down his fork when his plate was still half full. "I'm just not very hungry-I had potato chips and cookies and drank some pop at Brad's house," he explained.
"Jerry Allen Byron! You know you're not supposed to eat when it's almost dinner time," scolded Mom. "Besides, you know we don't want you to eat a lot of junk food. It can dull your appetite for the good food you need."
"Sorry, but it tastes so good," mumbled Jerry.
Mom frowned. "And this chicken dinner I fixed doesn't?" she asked. "I thought fried chicken was one of your favorite meals."
Jerry looked at the platter of chicken and creamy mashed potatoes and buttered corn. "It is," he said, "but I'm just not hungry. Can I go watch TV?"
Dad frowned slightly. "I hope you're not also getting too much 'junk food' in another area," he said. "Too much time spent on things like TV and video games and comic books is like taking in mental junk food. Those things don't help you grow strong spiritually, and too much of them may dull your appetite for good, spiritual food."
"The comic books and TV shows are all ones you've approved," protested Jerry, "and there's nothing wrong with my video games, is there?"
"No," said Dad, "unless they dull your desire for the things of God or take time you should use for other things."
Slowly Jerry nodded. "Well . . . I got a book at the church library last Sunday. I'll go read that, okay?" he asked.
"That would be better," agreed Dad, "but no, you can't be excused yet. Mealtime is family time here, so even if you're not hungry, we want you to stay and talk with us for a while."
MEMORY VERSE: Do not be conformed to this world . . . prove what is that good and . . . perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
HOW ABOUT YOU? How much mental "junk food" are you getting? It's fine to play games and enjoy yourself, but don't be "conformed" to even the "okay" things of the world. Don't get so involved in them that you neglect things that build your character and help you become more like Christ. A variety of Christian materials for children provide fun as well as spiritual help. And "spiritual family time"-time spent with other Christians-helps, too.
THE KEY: Limit physical and mental junk food