Four Corners

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:15-17

Naina nudged her way in as her class formed a circle around a four-square game drawn on the concrete. "There's a place in the United States where four states meet just like these four squares do," said Mrs. Cline. Using a big piece of chalk, she wrote the name of one state--Utah--in one square, Colorado in another, New Mexico in a third, and Arizona in the last one. "Many tourists visit that site and enjoy walking from state to state," Mrs. Cline told the class. "They also like to be in more than one state at a time. Who can show us how that can be done?"

Naina eagerly raised her hand. When Mrs. Cline called on her, Naina knelt on the pavement with her right knee in the square marked Arizona, her left knee in Utah, her right hand in New Mexico, and her left hand in Colorado. "Good," said Mrs. Cline. "Many people who visit Four Corners, USA, do the same thing."

That evening, Naina told her parents about the demonstration. "It was fun to pretend to be in four states at once," she said.

"I remember when I first heard about standing in more than one state at a time," Dad said. "When I was a freshman in high school, I heard it from my youth group leader."

"From your youth group leader?" asked Naina.

"My leader mentioned Four Corners and said we should be careful about trying to stand in two different states spiritually," Dad explained. "He said that as Christians we sometimes try to be in the state of following Jesus and in the state of worldly living at the same time. We might say we stand on Jesus and His truth, but we also want to have one foot in the world."

Mom nodded. "At Four Corners, are you actually in Colorado if you have one foot in New Mexico or one of the other states?"

"Well, not entirely," Naina admitted.

"No, and we can't really love Jesus and love the world at the same time either," said Dad. "This world is full of sin, but Jesus has saved us from sin and given us eternal life. Our hope is in Him, not in worldly things that won't last. That's why we need to follow Him wholeheartedly in every area of our lives."

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Are you following Jesus wholeheartedly? Or are you trying to keep one foot in the ways of this world? Even though we live in the world, it's not where we belong--we belong to Jesus. So don't try to be in two places at once by holding on to sinful ways that don't fit the new life Jesus has given you, even if the world says it's okay. Leave them behind and follow Jesus alone.
Today's Key Verse:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (NKJV) (Romans 12:2)
Today's Key Thought:
Follow Jesus, not the world