Darkness or light?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 John 1:5-10

TO CHEW ON: "But if we walk in the light, as he (God) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7


Your living room is a dim comfortable place where you spend a lot of time. Then one day someone pulls open the curtains and light shines in.


Suddenly you see the dust balls in the corners and the smudges all over the TV screen. Piles of books, CDs, and DVDs litter the floor. The coffee table is cluttered with dirty dishes and half-full glasses of pop. What looked like a comfy room in the darkness is quite a mess in the light!

God is the one who lights up the room of our lives. As we get to know Him, talk to Him in prayer and spend time reading the Bible, His light floods in. When that happens we see things that never bothered us before. What are some things God’s light might show us?

1. 1 John 2:9-11 __________________
2. Psalm 90:8 ____________________
3. Job 24:16 _____________________
4. 1 Thesalonians 5:7 ______________

When God’s light uncovers bad things (sins) we’ve done in the dark, what can we do about it?
5. 1 John 1:9 ____________________


PRAYER: Dear God, I have done some things in the dark. They are __________ From now on please help me to live in Your light. Amen.


MORE: Living in light
Below are some things you could do. Which things would you do in front of God? Which things you would be ashamed to do in front of God?

1. Pay a friend to do your homework for you.

2. Make jokes about the kid everybody in your class picks on.

3. Spend time playing with your little brother.

4. Watch movies or TV shows with your friends that your parents wouldn't allow you to watch.

5. Ask permission before getting spare change from Mom’s drawer.

6. Walk to school with the kid nobody likes.

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.

Making Things Right

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Philemon 1-25

TO CHEW ON: "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me." Philemon 10,11



Onesimus was a slave who lived in Colosse. His master’s name was Philemon. One day Onesimus stole some money from Philemon and ran away to Rome.

After some time, perhaps after all the money was spent, Onesimus found Paul. He may have met Paul before because Philemon was a Christian and a church met in his home. Paul had probably visited there.

Soon Onesimus became a Christian too. Then he faced a big problem. What should he do about his master Philemon and the money he had stolen? If he went back, Philemon might punish him or even kill him. He would certainly be a slave again. But if he didn’t, his conscience would bother him and give him no peace.

What would you have done? Do you think it’s important to confess and make right the wrong things we’ve done to people? Why or why not?

Paul wrote Onesimus’s master a letter. In it he asked Philemon to forgive Onesimus and take him back as a Christian friend. Then Paul sent Onesimus back to Colosse to deliver the letter to his master.

"Philemon" by Johann C. Weigel, 1695

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, is there anything I need to confess or make right with someone? Please give me the courage to do it. Amen.


MORE: How the Story Ends
The Bible doesn’t tell us how this story ends. What do you think happens when Onesimus returns to Philemon?

"Onesimus and Philemon" by O. A. Stemler

Write or tell the ending to the story:

• as Philemon would tell it

OR

• as Onesimus would tell it.

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Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Sin Germs

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Colossians 3:1-11

TO CHEW ON: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5


Our bodies are surrounded by invisible enemies. Tiny bacteria and viruses live all around us on places like toothbrushes, doorknobs and dishcloths. They are always trying to find places to grow and multiply, and our bodies are great for that. So they sneak into our mouths when we drink, fly into our noses when we breathe, enter through the injured skin of a cut or wound when we’re hurt.

While they’re trying to get in, we’re trying to keep them out. We use antibacterial soap, disinfectant and, when germs get in us and make us sick, antibiotics to make us well again.


These invisible germs and viruses are a lot like the sins that love to live in our spirits. We try to destroy the invisible army of germs and viruses so they won’t invade our bodies. In the same way we need to destroy the sin germs that try to get into our lives and make us spiritually sick.

What eleven sins does Paul tell us to destroy in Colossians 3:5-9?

1.            2.
3.            4.               
5.            6.
7.            8.               
9.            10.          
11.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to recognize the sin in my life, and then confess it and stop doing it. Amen.


MORE: Sin’s Signs and Symptoms
Match the sin-germ with the sickness it causes:
1. Greed ___
2. Filthy talk ____
3. Malice ____
4. Slander ____
5. Lying ____
6. Anger ____
7. Lust ____


a. saying something untruthful or deceitful.
b. damaging someone’s reputation by what you say.
c. showing strong feelings of displeasure and hostility.
d. saying bad words and using dirty talk.
e. wanting to hurt someone with speech or action.
f. having an intense sexual desire.
g. selfishly desiring possessions.


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.

Bonfire

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 19:11-20

TO CHEW ON: "Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly." Acts 19: 18-19a

Paul went back to Ephesus. His powerful sermons and miracles had made him famous. God worked so mightily through him that people took clothes that Paul had touched, laid them on sick people, and they were healed.

"Healings" by Christoph Weigel - 1695

When some Jews in the city tried to heal and do exorcisms (make evil spirits leave people) in Jesus’ name, like Paul did, the evil spirits knew they were fakers. The demon-possessed people beat up the imitation healers.

"Sons of Sceva" by Christoph Weigel - 1695

God’s power working through Paul caused all the new believers to respect God very much. Instead, of covering up past sins, they publicly confess the wrong things they have done. People who were once involved in sorcery (magic and the occult) collected their scrolls and burned them in a huge bonfire.

"The burning of the scrolls" - Artist unknown

God’s presence and power still makes us aware of the sins (wrong things) in our lives. Sometimes God reminds us of wrong actions we have done (stealing, lying, gossip, cheating). At other times He makes us aware of our wrong attitudes (jealousy, hatred, fear, envy). Ask God to show you if there are any sins in your life that need a “bonfire.”

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please show me if there are things in my life that I need to confess and destroy. Amen.

MORE: Confess and Destroy1. In Paul’s day people destroyed the scrolls they had used for sorcery (witchcraft). What are some things in our lives that don’t please God which we may need to destroy?

2. Some people may argue that destroying perfectly good CDs, DVDs, videos, books and magazines is a waste. Instead, they say, you should just give them away to someone who isn’t bothered by them. What do you think?

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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.

Prison Prayers

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Chronicles 33:7-13

TO CHEW ON: "And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God." 2 Chronicles 33:13

“The Assyrians are coming!” A messenger blurted the news to King Manasseh.

Manasseh called his priests and told them to pray to the gods, check the omens, and make sacrifices. But not to the God of heaven. For Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son and Judah’s king, was not like his dad. Instead of worshiping God, he rebuilt hilltop shrines where people went to pray to statues of Chemosh and Baal.

Illustration by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

He sacrificed his own sons to idols, was deeply into witchcraft and even built idol altars in the temple. God had tried to talk to Manasseh and the people, but they refused to listen.


The sacrifices Manasseh made that day did no good. He was captured by the Assyrian generals, chained and taken to prison in Babylon. There, in a dungeon and all alone, he had time to think. He remembered the things his father Hezekiah had taught him. He knew what he had done was displeasing to God. Maybe it wasn’t too late. Maybe God would still take him back.

One day he cried out to God. He told God how foolish he had been. He begged God to save his life and set him free.



Soon after the prison keeper unlocked his cell and sent him home. Oh joy!! Now he knew that God was real and powerful. When he got back to Jerusalem, he demolished the idols, shrines and altars. He cleaned up the temple. He told the people that from now on, they were to worship only the Lord God of Israel.

Sometimes God uses hard things like sickness, accidents, tragedies and facing the consequences of our choices to bring us back to Him. How much better to serve God all along than to risk such problems. But then, better the problems that bring us back to God than being separated from Him forever and ever.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for using even troubles to bring us back to You. Amen.

MORE: God’s Invitation
Over and over in the Bible, God invites us to come back to Him if we have gone away. 1 John 1:9 is such an invitation. Can you fill in the missing words from this verse. Use the word bank, below, if necessary.

If we 1. ___ our sins, he is faithful and just and will 2. ____ us our 3. ____ and 4. ____ us from all unrighteousness.

Word bank:
sins   purify
confess   forgive

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. 

The Call

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Isaiah 6:1-10

TO CHEW ON: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'
And I said, 'Here am I. Send me.'” Isaiah 6:8

God sat on a high throne. The train of his majestic robe was more glorious than any bride’s. It filled the temple. Angels were all around. Some flew back and forth calling “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is filled with his glory.” At the sound, the temple pillars shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

These are things Isaiah saw in a vision. He would never forget what happened next. As he saw God’s glory and heard the angels, Isaiah suddenly felt like he wasn’t good enough to be there. “Woe is me,” he said, “for my mouth is dirty with bad words.”


Then one of the angels came to him. He had a coal from the altar, and touched that coal to Isaiah’s lips. “God has taken away your guilt and sin,” he said.

Then Isaiah heard God’s voice: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

Without knowing what God would ask him to do, Isaiah replied, “Here am I, send me.”


God called Isaiah to be a prophet that day. He would spend more than forty years speaking God’s words to the people of Judah.

Has God called you to do something for Him? If He hasn’t yet, someday he may. He may not call you in a vision like He did Isaiah. But however He calls, make sure your answer is the same as Isaiah’s.

PRAYER: Dear God, when You call, I want to answer, “Here am I, send me.” Amen.

MORE: Unique Calls
God calls people in many different ways. Using the books and/or the internet, find out how God called:

William Cameron Townsend - founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators.



Billy Graham - evangelist.


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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. 

Jehu's Unfinished Job

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Kings 10:18-29

TO CHEW ON: “So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit – the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.” 2 Kings 10:28,29

Jehu lost no time getting to work on job the prophet had given him. When Ahab’s son King Joram was recovering from a war injury in Jezreel, Jehu rode there in his chariot and did away with Joram. Next he had Queen Jezebel killed. Finally, he destroyed the worship of the idol Baal.


He did this by tricking all the Baal prophets. He told the people to call them together for a big, big sacrifice. “Ahab served Baal a little,” Jehu said. “I will serve him much. Any Baal prophet who doesn’t show up will be killed.”

When all the prophets had gathered in Baal’s temple, Jehu posted guards outside. “Don’t let anyone escape,” he said. Then he made the sacrifice. And right after that he gave the signal to the guards to destroy every Baal prophet in the temple.

After that was done, Jehu tore down the Baal altar and the temple. In this way he stopped Baal worship in Israel.

But he didn’t go far enough. What did he still allow that was not pleasing to God? (2 Kings 10:28,29) __________


Has God showed you something that needs to change in your life? Maybe, for example, you’ve stolen something in the past. You know that God hates stealing. You decide never to steal anything again. Still you haven't make it right with the person you stole from or returned or paid for the thing you stole. So you haven't finished the clean-up. Don’t be like Jehu and go only partway in obeying God. Instead, finish the job.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to finish doing what You ask. Amen.


MORE: Unfinished Projects
Do you have unfinished projects sitting around your room or house?

What are they?

Why didn’t you finish them?

Pick out one unfinished project and determine to finish it. Work on it 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.

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

I'm Sorry

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Psalm 51:1-19

TO CHEW ON: "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise." Psalm 51:17


After Nathan had talked to David, he felt terrible. Now he knew how seriously God took what he had done. It wasn’t just some little "mistake." It was sin – adultery, lying, murder. He felt guilty. He felt dirty. He felt sad. He felt afraid that God wouldn’t be his friend any more. He was very sorry.


David wrote his thoughts and feelings in Psalm 51.

1. Even though David had killed Uriah, whom had he sinned against the most? ____ (Psalm 51:4)

2. What did David ask God to do for him (Psalm 51:7-12)?
A. Create a new heart in him.
B. Let him be happy again.
C. Help him be more clever at covering his sins next time.
D. Wash and cleanse him.
E. Give him the will to obey God.
F. Take all temptation away from him.

David knew that God wanted more than sacrifices. God wanted a different attitude inside. He wanted a broken heart and a broken and contrite spirit. David felt that way. He knew God would forgive him.

Still, there would be consequences to what he had done. A man had been killed. There was a baby on the way. And God had said David’s family would never be the same. Even though God forgave him, David would still have to bear the consequences of his sin.

PRAYER: Dear God, I too want a pure heart and the will to obey You. Amen.

MORE: Signs of ‘Sorry’
Has God brought to your memory some sin that you need to deal with? Perhaps you’ve realized for the first time how seriously God takes what you did. Now you feel like David – guilty, dirty, sad, sorry. What can you do? Here are some things:

1. Confess your sin to God. He has promised to forgive you and make you clean again. (1 John 1:9)

2. Ask yourself, who was injured by my sin? Do I need to ask any person for forgiveness or repay something I’ve stolen, or make right a lie I told? Then do what you need to do.

3. Now ask God to give you a heart that is sensitive to the things that please and displease Him.


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.