Read: Revelation 1:4-8

“A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.” Hailey looked at her three-year-old brother. “Okay, Liam, now you try.”

Liam looked like he was thinking intensely. “A!” he suddenly shouted, and then, after a pause, “Z!”

“Ugh!” Hailey clapped a hand to her forehead in frustration.

Dad, who was watching the whole thing, began to laugh.

“I’m glad you think this is funny,” Hailey said. “I’ve been working with him for an hour, and he’s just not getting it.”

“Why is it so important that he know the alphabet right now anyway?” asked Dad.

“Jenny and I are having a race. If I can teach Liam the alphabet before she teaches her dog to sit and roll over, I get to pick the movie we watch this weekend.”

Dad chuckled and shook his head. “You guys are silly.”

Hailey laughed. “Yeah, I guess.” She sighed. “Yesterday Jenny asked me a question that made me feel really silly. She asked me how old God is. I didn’t know what to say.”

Liam walked over to where Dad was sitting, and Dad picked him up and put him in his lap. “Well, Liam just told you the answer.”

Hailey gave her dad a confused look. “But all he said was, ‘A, Z.’ That’s not a number.”

“In the Bible, Jesus says He’s the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and end. Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, like our A and Z. God is A to Z, just like Liam said. He always was, is, and will be. He doesn’t have an age.”

“So God has no beginning or end?” Hailey asked.

“That’s right.” Dad’s eyes twinkled. “And yet, He was born—and also died.”

“But wait, you just said…” It took Hailey a moment to realize what Dad meant. “Oh, I get it—you’re talking about Jesus! He was born as a baby and died on the cross for us, and then He came back to life.”

Dad nodded. “Jesus is God, who is eternal with no beginning or end, but He was willing to become human and die for us so we could have eternal life with Him.”

–Melissa Yeagle

How about you? Have you ever wondered how old God is? Unlike humans and everything else, God doesn’t have an age—there was never a time when He didn’t exist! But even though He has no beginning or end, Jesus still chose to be born on earth and die on the cross so we could be saved. When you trust in Him, He gives you a new life that will never end. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today's Key Verse: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: God has no beginning or end

Read: 1 Samuel 23:14-18

“I’m quitting basketball,” Tyler announced flatly as his dad entered the room.

“Quitting?” asked Dad. “But you could hardly wait to join the team!”

Tyler frowned. “I’m just a benchwarmer. Coach Adams hardly ever lets me play.”

“Well, no, he hasn’t yet, but he told me you have great potential.”

“If I’m so great, why doesn’t he let me play more?” asked Tyler.

“Because the older players have more experience, and Coach Adams is naturally going to use his best players when it’s necessary for a win.”

“I can play as well as they can,” Tyler said. “At least, I could if I got to play in more games. Basketball is almost over for the year!”

“Just be patient,” said Dad. “We all need to wait patiently sometimes.”

Tyler crossed his arms. “I’ve waited long enough!”

Dad scratched his chin. “Do you remember King David in the Bible? He was a benchwarmer too.”

Tyler rolled his eyes. “Dad, King David never played basketball! It didn’t exist back then.”

“No, but you could say he was a benchwarmer for a long time. When David was just a young boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him to be king, but he had to wait about twenty years before he actually became king.”

“Yeah, but being king is an important thing, and it was something God said would happen,” Tyler said. “I don’t think God really cares if I play basketball or not.”

“I think He does,” said Dad. “He gave us our gifts, and He uses them to shape us to be more like Jesus. Learning to play basketball involves more than just dribbling and shooting. A good player also knows when it’s best to take a shot or pass the ball, and that requires skills that take time and patience to develop. I think God is using this experience to teach you to be more patient. Then you’ll be a better basketball player and a more mature Christian.”

Tyler nodded thoughtfully, then stood up. “How about a little one-on-one, Dad?”

Dad smiled. “You’re not quitting?”

“Not me,” said Tyler. “I love basketball, and I want to keep getting better.” He grinned. “I just hope it doesn’t take me twenty years to get into more games!”

–Joyce R. Lee

How about you? Do you feel like a benchwarmer? Perhaps your coach isn’t letting you play or your parents won’t let you do something you think you’re ready for. When things like that happen, remember that Jesus uses everyday experiences to shape you to be more like Him. Think about what He might be teaching you in the situation you’re dealing with. Then trust Him to give you patience as He helps you learn and grow.

Today's Key Verse: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Learn to be patient

Read: Philippians 3:12-16

“I don’t think I did well on that history test today—I should have studied more,” Breonna said as she followed Mom into a store. “And then Shirina got upset when I said her skirt looked like one you used to wear in high school. I meant it as a compliment, but she didn’t take it that way. I tried to explain and say I was sorry, but I still feel bad about it.” Breonna sighed. “What a horrible day!”

“Well, don’t dwell on it, honey,” said Mom. “Now you’ll know better next time.”

“But I should have known better this time!” Breonna picked a pair of shoes and tried them on. “Hey, these are exactly what I want! Can I get them?”

“It’s up to you,” said Mom. “You’re spending your own money. But this is our first stop—you might find something else in another store.” Yet Breonna was so sure she wanted the shoes that she not only bought them but also decided to wear them.

In another store, they saw the same shoes again—on sale. Breonna was dismayed. “I should have waited! I could have saved money.”

“Well, it’s too late now. You’re already wearing the ones you bought, so you can’t return them.”

In store after store, Breonna continued to mope. Finally, Mom took some bills out of her purse and handed them to Breonna. “Here. This covers what you paid for the shoes.”

Breonna gaped at the money. “But you told me to wait, and I didn’t listen! Why should you pay for them?”

“Because I want you to enjoy your shoes—and I want to help you understand that because of God’s grace, you don’t have to live with regret. Grace is giving someone what they don’t deserve, and Jesus did that for us when He died to take the punishment for our sin. Because of His grace, we can trust that He will bring good out of everything that happens in our lives, even things we mess up. Instead of going over and over what we should have done differently, we can learn from our mistakes and move on. We can enjoy life with Him now instead of reliving the past.”

Breonna smiled and put the money in her pocket. “Thanks, Mom.”

–Hazel W. Marett

How about you? Do you dwell on past mistakes and what you should have done differently? Maybe you got a bad grade because you didn’t study, or you failed to help someone when you had the chance. Learn from your mistakes so you don’t make them in the future, but then put them behind you. Jesus saved you by dying on the cross, and He wants you to look forward to a life full of peace and joy with Him.

Today's Key Verse: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 (CSB)

Today's Key Thought: Don’t dwell on past mistakes