Princes and Princesses

Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-21; Galatians 5:22-23

Anissa curled up on the couch with her new book. “I’m almost done reading this already,” she told her brother. “It’s about a princess who didn’t know she was a princess!”

“How can that be?” Aaron asked. “If I were a prince, I’m pretty sure I’d know it!”

“She was kidnapped as a baby,” Anissa explained, “but even after her family found her, she didn’t act like a princess. Her parents wanted her to live in their huge palace, but she wanted to stay with people she knew, so she kept on living in an old shack. The king and queen bought her beautiful new clothes, but she didn’t want to wear them. She just kept wearing her old ones, which were ragged and dirty.”

“Sounds like an interesting book,” said Mom. “And you know, sometimes we act that way ourselves.”

“I don’t wear raggedy old clothes,” said Anissa. “Besides, I’m

not a princess.”

“Actually, in a way, you are,” Mom replied. “And Aaron is a prince.”

Anissa giggled. “And Dad’s a king, and you’re a queen?”

Mom shook her head. “No, I’m a princess too, and Dad is a prince. Because we trust in Jesus, we’ve been adopted into God’s family. We’re His children, and He is a King—not just any king, but the King of kings!”

“Oh yeah!” Anissa said. “I knew that.”

“As children of God, we’re His heirs,” continued Mom. “Jesus shares His blessings with us and promises us eternal life with Him. But sometimes we forget to embrace the new life He’s given us. We act as if we don’t know we’re children of the King and go back to our old, sinful ways.”

“Well, how is a prince—or princess—supposed to live?” Aaron asked.

“With Jesus at the center of our lives,” Mom replied. “But we can’t do it on our own. The Holy Spirit makes us grow and become more like Jesus. He gives us characteristics called the fruit of the Spirit. As His fruit grows in our lives, we act more like the princes and princesses we are.”

“I’m glad He’s helping us live our new lives and act more like Jesus,” Anissa said. “I don’t want to go back to a shack when I can live in the palace of the King of kings!” – Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?

Did you know that, if you trust in Jesus, you’re a child of the King of kings? Does your life reflect this? Or do you keep trying to go back to old, sinful habits that no longer fit with who you are? Let go of your old, raggedy ways and embrace the new life you have in Jesus. Trust Him to grow the fruit of His Spirit in your life and make you become more like Him.

Today’s Key Verse: Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Today’s Key Thought:

Live like a child of the King