One Hive, Many Members

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Romans 12:3-8

Kayleigh looked out the window as the familiar countryside whizzed past on the way to her grandparents' house. "We're here!" she exclaimed when she spotted it. "I see Grandpa in the backyard with his bees."

She got out of the car and ran to the hives out back. As she approached, she saw her grandpa pull out a frame full of hundreds of bees.

"Looks like they're working hard!" said Kayleigh as she watched the busy bees scurry around the frame.

"Oh yes," said Grandpa. "The nurse bees are feeding the larva, the queen is laying the eggs, and other bees are cleaning or making honey. Bees even guard the entrance to the hive. Each of them has a special job so all the work gets done."

Kayleigh watched one bee clean out a tiny cell. It didn't seem like the most fun job to her. "What if the bees didn't want to do their jobs and stopped working?" she asked.

Grandpa raised his eyebrows. "Each job is vital to the hive, even the ones that don't seem as important. The colony wouldn't survive if the bees didn't do their work."

"Even the cleaning?" asked Kayleigh.

"Especially the cleaning!" Grandpa replied. "Bees are very hygienic." He looked at the bees on the frame thoughtfully. "It reminds me of what the Bible says in Romans. The church is one body with many members, just like the hive, and the members don't all have the same job. Some people teach, some lead, and others do things like serve those in need or find ways to encourage people. We need them all to have a healthy, functioning body of Christ that shares His love with the world."

"Do I have a job in the church?" Kayleigh asked.

Grandpa nodded. "We all have gifts and talents given to us by God. He will show you how you can use them to serve the church." Grandpa put the frame back into the hive. "And right now, little missy," he said with a smile, "I have a job for you."

"What's that?" replied Kayleigh.

"Go and ask Grandma when supper will be ready!"

Kayleigh smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "Now that's a job I can definitely do!"

–Tara Whicker

How About You?
Do you have a special gift that God has given you? Maybe it's encouragement or helpfulness or generosity. All our gifts are important in the body of Christ, and we should use them to serve the church. Trust God to guide your steps as you learn to recognize and use the gifts He has given you.
Today's Key Verse:
In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts...given to each of us. (NIV) (Romans 12:5-6)
Today's Key Thought:
All gifts are important