Kids Devotionals

Science Project  (Read Romans 14:11-13; 15:1-2, 5-6)

As Mother tapped on Timothy's door, she could hear him
Talking. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were talking to
yourself," she said as she came into the room.

"Just chatting with my plants," Timothy said with a
grin. "It's going to be interesting to see if talking to them
affects their growth."

Mother nodded. "What did you learn in Sunday
school today?" she asked.

Timothy frowned; then he grinned. "Well, for one
thing, I learned that Pete doesn't know nuthin' when it
comes to Bible stories."

Mother raised her eyebrows. "Looks like you've been doing
some comparing," she said as she picked up a plant. "Are you using
the same food, soil, and amounts of light with the plants you're
talking to and the ones you're not talking to?" she asked.

"Of course," said Timothy. "Otherwise I won't know if the
difference in their growth is because of being talked to or some-
thing else. The ones in the basement get a different amount of light,
though, and I'm talking to those in the laundry room but not those
in the freezer room. I have to take all that into account when I make
my report."

Mother nodded. "I should think so," she said. "And you know
what? I think you should think about differences when you com-
pare the growth of kids in your class." She set the plant down. "Pete
hasn't been coming to Sunday school for very long, remember?"
she asked. "He's a new Christian, and he hasn't had time to learn
a lot of Bible stories and what God expects of him as a Christian.
Most of the kids have heard these things over and over since they
were tiny. Besides, God has given some the ability to learn more
quickly than others. so do you think it's fair to expect the same
amount of growth in each one?" Timothy shook his head. "I don't
think so, either," continued Mother, so take differences into ac-
count. Or better yet, don't judge your friends at all. Leave that to
God. He's the only one who can make fair judgments, anyways."
 

How about you? - Do you compare your friends? Don't expect them all to be the same or to grow at the same rate. Remember that they all have different backgrounds and capabilities. Leave it to God to judge them, and concentrate on making your own life pleasing to him.

Key:  Don't Judge Others

Memorize: "Judge not, that you be not judged" 
                                                                                                  Matthew 7:1

This is out of the book "The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids"  BUY IT  Copyright @ 1993 Children's Bible Hour

Updated 12/30/01