Keys for Kids Devotional: Christmas DevotionsSample

A GINGERBREAD HOUSE

"Mom! Tell Ella to stop dipping her finger in the icing!" 

"Karis, you know she's only five. You can't expect her to make a gingerbread house without eating any of it."

"But I want it to be perfect!" It was a Christmas tradition for Karis and Ella to make a gingerbread house. Karis lined up the red and green gumdrops like little army men. The containers of colored sprinkles stood at attention like soldiers. "Mom, I think there's more icing in Ella's hair than on our gingerbread house."

"Don't worry about it, honey," said Mom. "I'll give her a bath when you're finished." 

Karis smiled at her sister. "If you get any more icing on your face, you'll look like a snowman."

Ella giggled and handed her sister a broken piece of graham cracker. 

"That's a great idea, Ella," said Karis. "We can use little pieces of graham cracker to make shingles for our roof. We'll stick them on with icing." 

An hour later, Karis plopped the last gumdrop on the roof of the gingerbread house to make a chimney.

Mom picked up a leftover graham cracker and used it to scrape the bottom of the icing bowl. "That's one of the most beautiful gingerbread houses I've ever seen, girls. I'm so proud of you." She popped the graham cracker into her mouth. "You know, this gingerbread house reminds me of a Bible verse. Jesus said He was going to heaven to prepare a place for us to be with Him forever. It took you girls a whole hour to make your house. Can you imagine how awesome the place that Jesus is preparing for us is? If we trust in Jesus, He's already made a home in our hearts, and one day we'll get to be with Him in heaven forever." 

Karis smiled. "I'm pretty sure the place Jesus is preparing for us in heaven isn't made out of gingerbread."

Mom smiled and licked a bit of icing off her finger. "You're right. I don't think it will be made of gingerbread. But it will be just as sweet!" 

– Jared Hottenstein

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have you ever built a gingerbread house? Then you know how much time and preparation it takes to make it look good. Right now Jesus is preparing a place for those who trust in Him, and it will be better than any mansion on earth! But there’s only one way to get there. Trust in Jesus, and He will make a home in your heart—and prepare one for you in heaven too.

KEY VERSE

There are many rooms in my Father’s house…I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2, ERV)

TODAY'S KEY

Christians have a home with Jesus.