Keys for Kids Devotional: The Ten CommandmentsSample

A Hateful Heart

Editor’s note: This story addresses murder and may not be suitable for some children.

Oscar was putting the finishing touches on the longest mini race car track ever built in his bedroom when his mom called down the hall. “Oscar! It’s time to go visit your dad!”

Oscar sighed and trudged into the kitchen. “Can’t you go without me, Mom? You could drop me off at Milo’s.”

“Oscar…” Mom sighed and set down her purse. “You never want to go visit your dad. Why is that?”

Oscar felt tears coming to his eyes, and he wiped at them angrily. “I…I just…” Suddenly the words just burst out. “I hate him!”

Mom looked a little startled, but her voice remained calm. “You hate him?”

“Yes, because he murdered someone!” Oscar was almost shouting. “He murdered someone, and he deserves to be in prison, and I hate going there, and I hate him for doing this to us!”

Mom let out a long breath. “I understand how hard this is for you, Oscar. It’s hard for me too. If I didn’t have Jesus helping me through this, I don’t know what I’d do.” She looked at Oscar. “Did you know Jesus talks about murder in the Bible?”

“I know one of the Ten Commandments forbids murder,” Oscar said.

“Yes, but did you know Jesus said hating another person was a form of murder?”

Oscar felt his cheeks flush. “He did?”

Mom nodded. “Every human life is precious to God. He created each person in His image, and He loves us all so much that Jesus died on the cross to save us. Jesus compared hate to murder because both go against Him, our Creator and Savior.”

“I guess that means I committed murder in my heart by hating Dad,” Oscar said quietly.

Mom put an arm around him. “We’ve all sinned against God, Oscar, but the good news is that Jesus forgives. Talk to Him about how you feel, and trust Him to replace your hate and bitterness with His love.”

Oscar nodded. “Mom? I changed my mind—I want to go visit Dad. I think he’d like to hear about the race car track I’m building.”

—Courtney Lasater

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you harboring hatred in your heart? By comparing hate to murder in the Bible, Jesus makes it clear that hating someone is a very serious sin. He tells us to love one another because He created us and loves us so much He died to take the punishment for our wrongs. Confess your hateful feelings to Him, and trust Him to replace them with His life-giving love.

TODAY’S KEY VERSE:
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. 1 John 3:15 (NLT)