Child of the King (Part 2)

Read: 1 John 3:1-3

Elsa was eager to find Maggie at school. “Remember how much fun it was to pretend we were princesses?” she asked her friend. “Well, guess what? My dad says I really am one! I’m a child of God, so I’m a child of the King because God is King of everything!”

“I’ve never heard that before,” Maggie said doubtfully.

“It’s what the Bible says,” Elsa replied. “Anyone who trusts in Jesus is a child of God. You can be His child too! Don’t you want to be?” Maggie just shrugged.

After school the girls went over to Maggie’s house, but Elsa didn’t stay very long. “I’m not playing with Maggie anymore!” she said as she burst into the kitchen. “We pretended to be princesses again, and she kept all the prettiest dresses for herself. She wouldn’t let me wear any of them. Then when I got off my throne for just a second, she took it!”

Mom frowned. “Are you sure you weren’t trying to get all the best things for yourself?”

“But I was her guest—and I really am a child of the King, and she’s not,” Elsa replied. “I told Maggie that, but she wouldn’t even give me back my throne.” Elsa scowled. “But I showed her!”

Mom raised her eyebrows. “What did you do?”

“I threw her stuff at her and told her she looked ugly in those dresses anyway, and then I ran home.”

“Elsa,” Mom said quietly, “do you think you acted like a princess today? The Bible says that when we trust Jesus to save us from our sin and become God’s children, He makes us new people. The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts so we can live pure lives that show others we belong to the King. Do you think your actions today were pure? Do you think your attitude showed Maggie what Jesus was like and made her want to become God’s child?”

“I guess not,” Elsa admitted. “Can I go back and apologize?”

“Sure,” said Mom. “That will help Maggie see what it’s like to be a real princess—a daughter of the King of kings!”

–Victoria Johnson

How about you? Do you act the way a prince or princess—a child of God—should act? Do you show others who Jesus is by treating them with love and kindness? If you belong to the King of kings, your life should show it. The Holy Spirit is making you more and more like Jesus each day. Show His love to others so they can see who He is and want to become His children too.

Today's Key Verse: All who have this hope in [Jesus] purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:3 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Live a pure life