Fruit Salad

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Galatians 5:16-26

TO CHEW ON: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22,23a



What do you like about fruit - its sweetness? Its juiciness? The way it feels in your mouth? What is your favorite kind of fruit?

If you live in a place where fruit grows, you know only certain plants produce fruit. You don’t expect to pick apples from an oak tree or find blackberries on a cedar bush. Even fruit trees can only produce one kind of fruit. Plum trees will not grow peaches, neither will cherry trees grow pineapples.

We can think of people as plants. Their fruit is the things they do. But unlike plants, people’s lives can grow many kinds of fruit - a real fruit salad.

In the letter he wrote to the church in Galatia, Paul talks about the kinds of fruit a person who has given their life to Jesus should grow. It's Holy Spirit fruit. When we give Jesus our lives and let the Holy Spirit change us to be like Him, our lives will grow this kind of fruit too.

Today’s verse lists nine Spirit fruits. There’s a piece taken out of each those fruits, below. Complete each by filling in the missing piece from the fruit salad bowl.

1. g __ __ __ leness       5. l __ __ e

2. __ __ __ ience          6. __ __ __ dness

3. g __ __ __ ness         7. f__ __ __ hfulness

4. self-c__ __ __ rol      8. __ __ y

9. __ __ __ ce

PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, help me to let You grow Your good fruit from my life. Amen.

MORE: A Helping of Fruit Please
Which Spirit fruit do you think you would need in the following situations (you may need more than one)?

1. Your deaf grandmother comes for a visit.

2. You have to get up at 6:30 every morning to deliver papers.

3. You have to cancel your vacation trip because your dad has to work.

4. Your little sister keeps getting into your stuff.

5. Your best friend needs help with homework

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Who's At the Controls?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 8:5-11

TO CHEW ON: The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Most vehicles, machines and toys have controls. Can you match the object with its controls?

1. Car ____      4. Bike ____

2. Computer ____ 5. Video Game ____

3. Canoe ____

The controls on most things are small. But the results of how those things are controlled are big. It’s the same way with our lives.

We determine who and what controls our lives in small ways. It's in the choices we make every day. We can make selfish choices and try to control our own lives. Or we can choose to let God the Holy Spirit control our lives. The consequences of both are huge.

If we choose to live by our “sinful minds” - our own ideas, plans and desires - the result is ________________. If we let the Holy Spirit control our minds and our lives, the result is _________________ and _______________. (Romans 8:6)

PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, help me to live my life under Your control. Please show me how You want me to live today. Amen.



MORE: What’s Your Choice:
God never forces us to live for Him. He lets us choose.

Which of the activities below would help you live a Holy Spirit-controlled life. Can you add one more to the list?

1. Watch popular music videos on TV.

2. Read story books written by Christian authors.

3. Buy and read secular magazines about teen movie stars, fashions and dating.

4. Watch any videos that sound interesting, in spite of ratings and language warnings.

5. Collect and listen to Christian music CDs.

6. Read the Bible and memorize parts of it.

7. _________________________________________________

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Paul's First Mission Trip

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 13:1-5

TO CHEW ON: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'” Acts 13:2.

While Herod was persecuting the believers in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Saul were teaching in Antioch. It was here that those who believed in Jesus were first called Christians.

One day during a prayer meeting in Antioch, God the Holy Spirit told the Antioch Christians to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a special job. They were to go on a mission trip. They would travel to places where no one knew about Jesus and tell about Him.

Paul begins his first missionary journey - Artist unknown

Have you ever been on a mission trip? If you have, you’ll know that preparing for such a trip is lots of work. You have to raise money for the plane or bus fare and for expenses along the way. If you’re going out of your country you need to get travel papers (like passports, visas and travel insurance). You may need shots to protect you against foreign diseases. You need foreign money. You need to prepare for what you’re going to do when you get there - practice your songs and stories, collect supplies for crafts or equipment for sports. And of course, you have to pack your clothes.

Before Saul and Barnabas left on the first missions trip, we don’t read of them doing any of these things - though I’m sure they did some of them.

Paul starts on a big trip - Artist unknown

But they did have one thing that made their trip a sure success. They had the call of God. In all our preparations to serve God, let’s not forget to first listen for His call, telling us that this is what He wants us to do.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to be willing to go on any mission, near or far, to tell people about You. Amen.

MORE: Map It
Starting at Antioch, trace the first few stops of Saul and Barnabas’s trip on the map. Acts 13: 1
Acts 13:4
Acts 13: 5

This is a detail of a map that can be viewed at www.bible.ca
Copyright, 1994 by Abingdon Press
Used with permission

(To print the map, click on it, then print the window that opens.)

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Accepting All People

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 10:24-35

TO CHEW ON: "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'" Acts 10:34,35

Peter went back with Cornelius’s servants to Caesarea. Even though Cornelius and his men were Gentiles and not Jews, Peter knew God wanted him to visit Cornelius. Peter probably had an idea his vision was about more than eating unclean food. After he heard Cornelius’s story, Peter knew God was telling him to accept people he had thought of as unclean. What two things did Peter learn (Acts 10:34,35)?

"Peter and Cornelius" - Artist Unknown

1. God does not _____________________________________________

2. God accepts ______________________________________________

God hasn’t changed. He still loves everyone – no matter what color their skin, what language they speak or where they live. We should love them too.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to love people of every nationality, like You do. Amen.

MORE: Gentile Pentecost
The same things that happened to the Jews on the day of Pentecost, happened that day to the Roman Cornelius and his family. This proved to Peter that God loved and accepted the Gentiles

Solve the crossword puzzle using the clues below and Acts 10:34,35 and Acts 10: 44-47.
(To solve, click on the puzzle, then print the page that opens.)

Puzzle by Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker

WHAT PETER SAW AND HEARD
Peter saw the ___ (1 down) come down on everyone there.
Peter heard people ___ (7 across).
They were talking in ___ (3 down) (different languages).
They were praising ___ (2 across).

WHAT PETER DID
Then Peter ___ (6 across) everyone who believed.

WHAT PETER LEARNED:
Peter learned God doesn't have ___ (5 across).
God ___ (8 across) everyone.
God loves people from every ___ (4 down).

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Power!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 2:1-13

TO CHEW ON: "Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?'” Acts 2:12

Picture this. A group of people have met in a house for a church service. Suddenly the house is filled with the sound of a loud wind.

"Pentecost" by Kelly Nora

Tongues that look like fire rest on each person’s head. Then these people begin to talk, but in languages they’ve never learned.

Out on the street people passing by hear sounds from inside the building. They gather to listen. These listeners have come from many places and speak different languages. Now they are hearing the people inside the house saying words they can understand. They’re talking about how wonderful God is.

"The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost" - Artist unknown

What do you think?
1.___ This never happened - it was all made up.
2. ___ This was the Holy Spirit power that Jesus had told His friends to wait for.
3. ___ The disciples were drunk.

According to the Bible, this did happen. The day the Holy Spirit entered the Jerusalem room where the disciples were waiting is called Pentecost. Before that day the Holy Spirit gave power to God’s special servants. Pentecost was a day when God’s power became available to every Christian.

Here are some things the Holy Spirit does in your life and mine:

1. He helps us know and understand who Jesus is (John 15:26).
2. He invites us to come to Jesus (Revelation 22:17).
3. He causes us to be born again (John 3:5).
4. He makes us feel guilty and fear God’s judgment when we sin (John 16:7-8).
5. He helps us worship God (John 4:23-24).
6. He helps us pray (Romans 8:26).

PRAYER: Dear God, I welcome Holy Spirit into my life. Amen.

MORE: Modern Holy Spirit- Does Holy Spirit still give us power to witness today? In what ways?

- Have you been in a place where Holy Spirit’s power was evident? What did you see? Hear?

- What modern-day stories have you heard that would prove that Holy Spirit still gives power to Jesus’ followers today?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Last Words

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 1:3-8


TO CHEW ON: “'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'” Acts 1:8

We pay close attention to a person’s last words. When we know we are seeing someone for the last time, we’re careful to listen to the things they say.

The words above are the last words written in the Bible that Jesus said to His disciples before He went into heaven. He told His followers two important things.

"Jesus before His return to heaven" - Artist unknown

Complete Jesus’ instructions by filling in the blanks using Acts 1:8 and the words below:

1. Jesus had a job for them to do:
You will be ______ ________ in __________, ___________, __________ and to the ends of the earth.

2. He would help them do that job:
You will _________ _________ when the ________ ______ comes on you.

Samaria,   Jerusalem,

receive,   my,   power,

Spirit,   Judea,

Holy,    witnesses

After Jesus said these things, He left His disciples and returned to heaven.

"The Ascension" - Artist unknown

The job Jesus gave His disciples just before He went back to heaven is still our job today. Are we doing it?

PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, please give me power to be a witness for Jesus in my world. Amen.

MORE: Your Assignment
Jesus gave this job assignment to people:
- whose home city was Jerusalem
- whose home province or state was Judea
- whose neighboring province or state was Samaria.

Fill out Jesus’ job assignment for you:


ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Keepsake Meal

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 22: 14-20


TO CHEW ON: “...do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

Do you have a collection of special keepsakes? Suppose in your collection you have a teacup from your grandma, a baseball hat from when you were little, and a trophy.

Those keepsakes wouldn’t be special to someone else, but they are to you. Why? Because each one is a picture or symbol of someone or something important to you. The teacup might remind you of grandma and the interesting stories she told. The baseball hat could remind you of the friend you played with when you wore it. The trophy reminds you of your team and how hard you worked to win the tournament.

Jesus, during his last meal with His disciples, gave them just such a way to remember Him. He took a piece of bread, said grace over it, tore it apart, and handed the broken pieces to them. He told them to eat it and when they did, to remember Him and how His body would be nailed and pierced (broken) for them.

"The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci - 1498

Then he took a cup of wine. Again he asked a blessing on it, handed it around and told them to take a drink. This was to remind them of how His blood would be poured out for them.

"The Last Supper" © 1993 by Darlene Slavuac (Used with the artist's permission)

We still celebrate this remembrance of Jesus. In some churches it’s called "Communion." Other churches call it the "Lord’s Supper.’"Still others call it "Holy Eucharist." Do you celebrate it in your church? What do you call it?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for Your broken body and poured out blood. Help me to think of You each time I take part in this meal. Amen.


MORE: Christian Symbols
Pictures of a goblet of wine and a loaf of bread remind us of the Lord’s Supper. Below are more Christian symbols. Match each symbol with the thing or event we remember when we see it:



A. Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem. _____

B. The end of the flood and God's faithfulness. _____

C. The Ten Commandments. _____

D. A secret symbol used by early Christians. One person would draw an arc in the sand and the other would complete the sign to show they were both followers of Christ. _____

E. The Lord's Supper. _____

F. Jesus' death. _____

G. The soldiers mocking Jesus and His suffering before His death. _____

H. The Holy Spirit. _____

I. Christmas. _____


ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Water please

TODAY’S SPECIAL: John 4:4-15


TO CHEW ON: "Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'” John 4:10


Which of these statements is true?

~ Water is the single most important substance on earth.

~ Our bodies are made up of 70% - 75% water.

~ Our bodies lose water when we sweat and go to the bathroom.

~ We can die from lack of water.

Yes, they’re all true.

Jesus was hot, tired and thirsty on His walk from Judea to Galilee. So it’s no shock He asked for a drink when he stopped at the Sychar well. But what is surprising is that he asked a woman, and a Samaritan woman at that (Jews hated Samaritans).

"The Woman from Samaria" - Artist unknown

Jesus quickly turned the conversation from physical water to spiritual water. He offered this woman water that would be in her and would never run dry. Did Jesus mean that she’d never need a drink of water again? What did Jesus mean?

When we accept Jesus and are born again, like Nicodemus was, God the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. He is our teacher, comforter and constant companion. He helps us understand the Bible and reminds us in many ways that God loves us and is with us. His presence in our lives is living water to our spirits.

PRAYER: Dear God, I accept Your living water. Help me to always be satisfied by it. Amen.



SUPERSIZE IT: Spirit Water
Can you think of some ways God reminds you that He loves you and is with you? Make a list.
1.
2.
3.
4.


Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Two Births?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: John 3:1-8

TO CHEW ON: “Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again .' " - John 3:3

Nicodemus was no dummy. He had gone to school for many years to become a Pharisee. He was in government as a member of the ruling council, the Sanhedrin. Yet even though he knew a lot and was an important man, he really wanted to talk to Jesus. He went to see Jesus at night.

"Nicodemus" - Artist unknown

"You're obviously from God," Nicodemus said. "Otherwise how could you do the miracles you do?"

In reply Jesus didn't talk about where He was from. Instead He answered the question that was really on Nicodemus's mind - how to become part of God's kingdom.

1. What one thing did Nicodemus need to do? (John 3:3)

- Be a very good person.
- Study about God.
- Give money to the poor.
- Memorize lots of Scripture.
- Be born again.
- Keep the Sabbath day.
- Be careful not to break any of God’s laws.

2. Who would have to help Nicodemus to do this? God the ________ (John 3:8)

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to respond to Your Spirit. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Windy Lesson
Jesus told Nicodemus that God the Spirit makes us want to be born again. His Spirit comes as mysteriously as the wind. What can you discover about the wind?

- Where does it come from?

- Where does it go?

- What kinds of winds blow in the area you live?

- How many words can you think of for ‘wind’?


ANSWERS





Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Accurate Predictions

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Joel 2:28-32


TO CHEW ON: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." Joel 2:28

If someone asked you, “What will happen next week?” could you tell them? What if they asked about tomorrow, or even later today?

Without God’s help, people have no way of knowing the future. But when God’s Spirit tells people what to say about the future, as He did to the Old Testament prophets, we get accurate predictions.

God gave Joel words to say about the distant future. He told about a time when God would pour out His Spirit on all people – old and young, women and men.

Hundreds of years later a small band of Jesus’ followers were gathered in a Jerusalem room. Jesus had recently died, risen again and gone back to heaven. Just before He left, Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.

That’s what they were doing this day when suddenly there was the sound of wind and the sight of fire tongues sitting on each person’s head. Then people began praising God in languages they didn’t know. Later when Peter explained to onlookers about what had happened, he said Joel’s prophecy – our today’s Bible reading – had come true right in front of them.


There are many more prophecies in the Old Testament. Some, like Joel’s have already come true or been fulfilled. Others have still not happened. When we read these prophecies, we must remember two things:

1. Each event predicted by God through His prophets will someday happen. Jesus will return to earth. We will each stand before God. The earth will not stay the way it is.

2. These things could happen any time. Am I ready? Are you? Find out how to get ready.

PRAYER: Dear God, You know everything. Please help me to be ready to face the future You have predicted. Amen.



MORE: Counterfeit Prophets
Most of us would love to know the future. There are lots of ways people try to discover or predict it. Many of these involve the occult: astrology, tea leaf reading, palm reading, Oija board, I-Ching, fortune telling, tarot cards. Can you think of more?

The Bible tells us to avoid these things. If you have done any of them in the past, stop! Talk to God and your parents about them. You might also want to get rid of any materials (cards, books, etc.) you have used in trying to predict the future in this way.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Changed!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 10:1-9

TO CHEW ON: “The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.” 1 Samuel 10:6,7

The next day Samuel sent Saul back home. Just before they parted, Samuel took out a bottle of oil and poured some on Saul’s head. Anointing him in this way showed that Saul was God’s choice to be Israel’s king.


1.To make sure that Saul knew this was God’s idea and not just Samuel’s, Samuel predicted some things that would happen to Saul in the next few hours. Which thing Samuel did not say: (1 Samuel 10:2-6)

A. You will meet two men who will tell you the donkeys have been found and your father is now worried about you.


B. You will find the donkeys on the road to Gibeah.


C. You will meet three men carrying goats, bread and wine.


D. You will meet a band of prophets playing instruments and prophesying.


E. You will prophesy and be changed.

2. What happened as Saul turned to leave Samuel? (1 Samuel 10:9) __________

All the things happened that day, just as Samuel had said.

When Saul met the prophets and joined them in prophesying, praising and worshiping God, the people who knew Saul and his family were surprised. “Who would imagine that Saul would be a prophet!” they said. It was obvious that he had been changed.

From that time on God was with Saul in a special way. God’s Holy Spirit changed him and gave him everything he needed to do the job of being king.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who changes us into people who can do the things You ask us to do. Amen.

MORE: Power for everyone
Before Jesus came, the Holy Spirit helped especially the people who had big assignments from God.

Just before Jesus went back to heaven, He gave all his followers – those that were living then and those that would live in the future – a big assignment. It was to tell the Gospel. They were to tell people all around the world the good news that Jesus had paid the penalty for their sins. By trusting in Him, everyone could be forgiven and be friends with God.

But in order to do this assignment, every one of them would need Holy Spirit power. Read the story of when the Holy Spirit first came on many people at once in Acts 2:1-13.

Answers

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

God's Mobile Home

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Exodus 25:1-9

TO CHEW ON: “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” Exodus 25:8,9

Do you go to church on Sunday? What is your church like?

Churches can be big or small, fancy or simple, a special set-apart building or a building that is used for other things the rest of the week.





Again God told Moses to come up to Him on the mountain. So Moses put Aaron and Hur in charge of the people. Then he took his assistant Joshua and again climbed Mount Sinai. God’s presence covered the top of the mountain with a glory cloud while God talked to Moses about many things.

In today’s Bible reading, we read how God told Moses to build Him a church or sanctuary. But this building wouldn’t be like the churches most of us know. This church would be a tent called a ‘tabernacle.’ It would be light and movable, like tents are.

1. Why was it a good idea for this church to be movable and not a solid building?

2. What materials would be used for this tabernacle and for the worship? (Exodus 25:5-7)

3. Where would Moses get these things? (Exodus 25:2)

4. How would Moses know how to make the tabernacle? (Exodus 25:9)

In the next few days we’ll see how particular and detailed God’s plan was. He thought of everything! The picture below is one artist's idea of how the tabernacle looked.

. Model of the Tabernacle - Graphics from CC-Art.com

The tabernacle God told Moses to make was very special. It was the place where He would live on earth.

Does God still live on earth today? Where? Though He is present everywhere, He especially lives in the hearts and bodies of people who love and obey Him. Does He live in you?

PRAYER: Dear God, please live in me. This is the best home I can give You. Amen

MORE: God’s Modern Mobile Home
God’s modern mobile home is you! If you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins, God the Holy Spirit lives in your body. Here are Bible verses to remind you about that. You might want to memorize them.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:19,20


Answers

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's.