Fingerprints

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

Thea turned a page and showed a picture of Papa Bear to her little sister, then continued to read the story aloud. "'Who's been eating my porridge?' growled Papa Bear."

Their brother Eamon spoke up. "Papa Bear could have found out who ate it if he had lifted fingerprints from his spoon. Everybody has a different set of prints. No two are alike--ever. Match the prints and you've got the criminal."

"That's great, Eamon. Now let us finish the story," said Thea.

But Eamon grabbed his magnifying glass and held it above Thea's fingers. "See those ridges? They leave a mark on everything you touch. Police investigators use special powders to dust for fingerprints. The powder sticks to the invisible ridge marks. The investigator carefully brushes away the dust between the ridges and takes a picture of it." Eamon sat back. "The print can be lifted with print-lifting tape too."

"Eamon! We don't care about fingerprints right now. We just want to read the story," said Thea.

"Well, I just thought you should know in case you get any ideas about going into my room and messing with my stuff," Eamon said with a smirk. "I know how to lift prints with the detective kit I got for my birthday, so you'll be sorry if you do!"

Thea rolled her eyes. "Like I'd want to touch anything in your messy room!"

"I think there's another kind of print we should be more concerned about," said Mom, who had come into the room. "We need to think about the prints we're leaving on other people's lives."

"Prints on people's lives? What does that mean?" asked Eamon.

"I'm talking about the impressions we make on others," Mom replied. "Like fingerprints, they identify us--not by ridges, but by what's in our hearts. Our words and actions leave behind impressions that affect others. As Christians, we want those impressions to match the love Jesus has put in our hearts."

"Because then we'll be pointing people to Him, right?" asked Thea.

"Right," said Mom. "We need to speak and act in a way that helps people know how much Jesus loves them. No two people have the same fingerprints, but when we rely on Jesus to help us love others the way He loves us, the impressions we leave behind will point to Him."

–Lucinda J. Rollings

How About You?
What kind of impressions do you leave on others? Are the things you do and say kind and uplifting--or selfish and hurtful? If you're a Christian, the impressions you leave on others should point to Jesus. He shows His love for us through qualities like kindness, patience, and forgiveness. Treat others the same way so the impressions you leave behind identify you as someone who has His love in your heart.
Today's Key Verse:
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (NIV) (John 13:35 )
Today's Key Thought:
Leave good impressions