The Worst

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Titus 3:3-8

TO CHEW ON: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Titus 3:4,5

Who is the worst person you’ve ever heard of? What did they do that made them so bad?



We may think of some people, like mass murderers or violent thieves as beyond help. People may say things about them like, “Put them in jail and throw away the key. That’s the best they deserve.”

This may be true. But then, none of us deserve any better as far as God is concerned. For though you and I may not have done really big bad things, we have sinned. And the punishment for our sin is death. All the good things we could ever do are not enough to earn God’s pardon and to make us His friends.

But He doesn’t save us and make us His friends because we’re good. Neither does He leave us out because we’re bad. God accepts each person who comes to Him. This is not because of what we have or haven’t done. Rather it’s because His death paid the price for our sin. His love is big enough to love even the worst person.

"The Good Shepherd" by William Dyce, 1856

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for being merciful and saving people who don’t deserve it. Thank You for saving me. Amen.

MORE: Pray
Do you know someone who does bad things? Talk to God about that person regularly. God loves them and can save and change them.

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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.

Who Is Jesus?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Colossians 1:13-20

TO CHEW ON: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. Colossians 1:19


You are a real person who lives on earth, right? Describe yourself:
- Who are you?

- What do you look like?

- What have you done?


Jesus was a real person who lived on earth too. He could have written a description of himself much like yours. It could have told us about His family, what He looked like, where He went to school, what His grades were like, all the things He had learned to do.

"The Transfiguration" - Titian, 1560-1565

But Paul in Colossians 1 tells us that Jesus was and is far more than someone who just lived on earth a long time ago. Let’s build a description of Jesus.

- Who is He? (All verses below taken from Colossians 1)
1. (Colossians 1:17)
2. (Colossians 1:18)
3. (Colossians 1:18)
4. (Colossians 1:18)

- Who does He look like?
5 (Colossians 1:15)

- What has He done / is He doing?
6.(Colossians 1:13)
7. (Colossians 1:16)
8. (Colossians 1:17)
9. (Colossians 1:20*)

* reconcile: means to bring back to friendship after being enemies; to settle a quarrel.

Though Jesus was once a human person, He was and is 10. (Colossians 1:19) _______________

The amazing thing is that Jesus, the God-man, wants to have a friendship with each one of us. He wants to be your friend. If you don’t know Him, here’s how you can become His friend today.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I worship You as God. Amen.

MORE: Jesus’ Names
The names Jesus was called in the Bible give us clues about how people thought of Him. Which names that show Bible writers thought of Jesus as God. Which names show that Jesus was human?

A] Bread of life (John 6:35)

B] Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 21:11)

C] Lord of Lords (I Timothy 6:15)

D] The first and last (Revelation 1:17)

E] Son of David (Matthew 8:20)

F] Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)

G] I Am (John 8:58)

H] Jesus (Matthew 1:21)

I] Word (John 1:1,14)

J] Offspring of woman (Genesis 3:15)

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.

The War Inside Me

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 7: 14-25

TO CHEW ON: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15

What happens when someone says, “Close your eyes and don’t peek”? Do you have a big urge to open your eyes and DO exactly what you’ve been told NOT TO DO?



That seems to be what happens when you concentrate on the things God tells you not to do. You know that disobeying our parents, stealing, lying and being jealous are things God tells you not to do. But have you ever found that the more you concentrate on those ‘don’ts’ the more you find yourself doing them?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul talked about the way people tend to act and feel this way. It is what makes it more natural for us to disobey God than obey Him. Later we feel sorry that we did what God said we shouldn't.

How do we escape from this circle of knowing we shouldn’t do something but doing it anyway? Paul gives us the answer.



Write the last words from Romans 7:25 in the blanks below:

“Thanks be to God – through ____________ __________ ____________ ____________.”

Some things that will help you escape the cycle of sinning:

A. Admit your sin to yourself and to God.
B. Ask God to forgive you.
C. Ask the Holy Spirit to alert you to when you take the first steps toward sin.
D. Ask Jesus to change you from the inside.

PRAYER: Dear God, Your power to change me helps me break habits of sinning. Thank you! Amen.



MORE: What If You Sin?
What things should you do when you sin? What things shouldn’t you do?

1. Get down on yourself and be discouraged for a few days.

2. Admit and confess your sin to God.



3. Memorize Bible verses that remind you of what pleases God.

4. Give up, because living for God is too hard.

5. Apologize to people you’ve hurt or wronged.

6. Accept God’s forgiveness and love.


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.

Scroll Mail

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 1:1-17

TO CHEW ON: "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle.... To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.” (Romans 1:1, 7)

Paul spent a lot of time traveling from place to place telling people about Jesus. After people decided to follow Jesus, they wanted to spend time with other Jesus-followers. So they started churches.

Sometimes the baby Christians in these churches needed more teaching. Sometimes they had questions or there were problems. Because Paul couldn’t be everywhere at once, he helped these new churches by writing them letters (also called epistles). The book of Romans is such a letter.

"Romans" by Johann C. Weigel, 1695

These letters are a little different than the letters we write. They usually have the writer’s name at the beginning.

• This letter was written by 1.______________. (Romans 1:1).
  
• The people to whom the letter is addressed is further down. This letter was addressed to 2. ________________ (Romans 1:7)

In his letters, Paul does more than chat about the weather and what’s new in his life. In Romans he explains that everyone needs to be saved (chapters 1 & 2) and worship God, even those people who worship other gods or idols.

"Instead of worshiping God..."Illustration by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

He shows that living for Jesus is more than keeping rules; it means a change of heart (chapters 6-8). He describes what our life can be like if we let the Holy Spirit control us (chapter 12).

Romans and the rest of Paul’s letters are a very important part of the Bible. They teach us why and how to live for Jesus. In the next few weeks we'll be reading parts from those letters and the letters that others wrote. They help us learn what pleases God and how to live for Him.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for people like Paul, who understood and explained the good news about Jesus. Amen.


MORE: ScrollsLetters written in New Testament times were not written on paper and mailed in a stamped envelope.

• They were written on specially prepared strips of animal skin called parchment. These strips were attached to pieces of wood and rolled up in a scroll.

• They were often written by a scribe (someone who wrote for others as a job). The name of the scribe who wrote Romans was 3. _____________ (Romans 16:22).
  

• Many of Paul’s letters were delivered by Paul’s friends who were traveling to those places. Paul was in Corinth when he wrote this letter. The woman who probably carried this letter to Rome for Paul was 4. ______________ (Romans 16:1).
  

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.

Decision Day

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 24:22-27

TO CHEW ON: "As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'” Acts 24:25

The soldiers took Paul to the city of Caesarea to appear before the Roman Governor Felix. Paul was glad to get an opportunity to tell Felix about Jesus, or “the Way” to God.

Governor Felix had heard about the Way. And he enjoyed listening to Paul talk more about it.

"Paul's defense before Felix" - Artist unknown

One day Paul was talking to Felix and Drusilla (Felix’s wife) about Jesus. As he described the kind of life that pleases God and God’s judgment, Felix became afraid. Why do you think he felt that way? (Cross out the one statement that is most likely NOT true).

1. He knew that he needed to decide whether to believe in Jesus for himself.
2. He knew that he had done bad things and was afraid of God’s judgment.
3. He was scared that Paul would beat him up.
4. He was afraid of dying.

"Felix and Drusila" - Johann C. Weigel, 1695

Though it seems God was knocking at Felix’s heart, he never made a decision to trust Jesus that day. And though Paul talked to Felix many times after that, we never read that God knocked at his heart in the same way again.

"Paul before Felix" by William Hogarth, 1752-1762

Have you ever felt Jesus knock at the door of your heart? Don’t ignore Him or think that you’ll answer Him another time. Someday He will come to you for the last time.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock" - Artist unknown

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to recognize Your voice and to follow when You call. Amen.

MORE: Missionary in Disguise
Paul didn’t let the fact that he was in prison stop him from talking about Jesus. He didn’t think of himself as a prisoner, but a missionary in disguise.

Can you think of five more places people could be missionaries in disguise?
(Example: You could be a missionary on your soccer or baseball team by telling other team members about Jesus.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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.

Tentmakers

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 18:1-4

TO CHEW ON: "And because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” Acts 18:3

What do you want to be when you grow up – a musician? a pilot? a cook? an artist? a road builder? Could you do these things – and be a missionary too?

Paul would say “yes.” He was a missionary, but when he needed money for rent and food he also had a job. He made tents. When the church in Corinth was small and there weren’t enough people to pay the salary of a full-time missionary pastor, Paul worked with his friends Priscilla and Aquilla at tent-making during the day. In his time off he worked for the church.

"Paul worked as a tentmaker" Illustration by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

We still use the word “tentmaker” to describe people who do a second job to support themselves while they work for God. These modern tentmakers don’t literally make tents. They do many jobs, from teaching English to nursing to engineering. They can often get into countries where pastors and missionaries aren’t allowed. Sometimes they work in places where the local people can’t afford to pay full-time workers.

No matter what our job is, we can also be a missionary and tell people about Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to be a missionary no matter what job I do. Amen

MORE: Bible Jobs.
Do you know what jobs these Bible characters did? Match each Bible character with the job they did.


1. Lydia (Acts 16:14) __________
2. Simon (Peter) (Mark 1:16) __________
3. Joseph (Genesis 41:39-40) __________
4. Luke (Colossians 4:14) __________
5. Matthew (Matthew 9:9) __________
6. David (1 Samuel 16:11-13) __________
7. Deborah (Judges 4:4,5) __________
8. Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:11) __________



A. Doctor
B. Drink server (cup-bearer)
C. Administrator (the one in charge)
D. Tax collector
E. Fisherman
F. Cloth dealer
G. Shepherd
H. Prophet and Judge

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.

Jail Joy

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 16:23-34

TO CHEW ON: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25

What things would fill you with joy?
1. Getting a new pet.
2. Winning a contest.
3. Being teased about being a Christian.
4. Finishing a hard job.
5. Being arrested for helping someone.

My guess is you didn’t choose 3. and 5. But Paul and Silas were joyful even after helping someone and being put in jail for it.

After the Philippi officials beat them, Paul and Silas were locked in a jail cell for helping the slave girl. But they didn’t get angry, complain, whine or grumble. Instead they prayed and sang hymns.

What happened next gave them even more reason for joy. An earthquake shook the jail. Their chains came loose. The doors flew open.

"Earthquake in the prison" - Sir James Thornhill

The jailer, afraid that everyone would escape, was ready to harm himself.

"Paul and Silas with the Jailer" - Artist unknown

But Paul and Silas didn’t run. Instead they calmed the desperate jailer and told him no one was going to escape.

Maybe Paul and Silas’s reaction to their beating made the jailor curious. Maybe the prayers they prayed and the songs they sang made him want to know their God. Because the jailer then asked them a strange question. What was it? (Acts 16:30) 1.______________________________________________

The Philippian Jailer - Artist unknown

The jailor and his family accepted Jesus that night and were baptized. Then he and his family were also filled with (Acts 16:34) 2. ______________ .

When we live for Jesus He gives us this unexplainable joy. Things around us might be falling apart. We might be in big trouble. But still, we are joyful because we know Jesus is with us. He takes care of us and gives us joy even in the middle of problems,

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You that the joy You give us is stronger than the things that go wrong in our lives. Amen.


MORE: Jails
- Find out about jails in Bible times
- Look at a picture of Philippian jail ruins which may be the prison where Paul and Silas were kept.


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.

From Bad to Good

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 8:1-8

TO CHEW ON: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." Acts 8:4.

Have you ever had to move because it wasn’t safe for you to live in your old home any more? That’s what happened to the followers of Jesus after Stephen’s death. Everyone, from people in government to neighbors, was out to get them. They were threatened, arrested, and many more were killed.

So they moved to other places in Judea and Samaria. Now there were no more big gatherings in the Jerusalem temple court. The large praise meetings stopped. There was hardly anyone left to go to the prayer gatherings and potluck dinners. Because of persecution the Christians left Jerusalem and were scattered all around.

"Conversions of the Samaritans" - Matthias Scheits, 1972

But they didn’t stop talking about Jesus. Everywhere they went, they spread the good news. Jesus had died for sins. People could be friends with God again. Everyone could live in Holy Spirit power. People could look forward to heaven when they died.

"Philip at Samaria" - Artist unknown, 1573

Many heard, and accepted Jesus. In a Samaritan city where Philip went , he explained about God’s power and people were healed. It brought joy to the whole city. Because of a bad thing – persecution – a good thing happened – more people heard about Jesus and accepted Him.

God can still bring good things out of bad. Your sickness and time spent in hospital may mean you get to tell your roommate about Jesus.

A flood in your city might help you meet people in a shelter who become lifelong friends.

Ask God to help you see even bad things as good gifts from Him.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You can bring good things out of bad. Help me to trust You for this in my life. Amen.

MORE: Your Bad to Good
- Name some bad things that have happened to you.

- What good things came out of the bad?

- What bad things are you facing now?

- Will you trust God to bring something good out of those bad things?

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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.

Dem Bones

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ezekiel 37:1-14


TO CHEW ON: "Then he said to me, 'Prophecy to these bones and say to them, "Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you and you will come to life."’” Ezekiel 37:4,5

"Valley of Dry Bones" © Duncan Long (Used with the artist's permission)

One day Ezekiel had another vision from God. A vision is something like a dream. Put the parts of Ezekiel’s vision in the order they happened (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

____ There was a rattling sound and the bones reconnected to become lifeless bodies.
____ Ezekiel saw a valley of dry bones.
____ God’s Spirit breathed life into the bodies.
____ Ezekiel told the bones God would make them live again.


Ezekiel’s vision had a meaning. The bones in Ezekiel’s vision were a picture of the Jewish people. They were discouraged because they could no longer live in their own land. They had been captured and taken to live in Babylon. In that country they felt as hopeless as if they were dead. God gave Ezekiel this vision to give the Jewish people hope.

What things in your life make you feel discouraged and hopeless? Is someone in your family very ill? Do you find school hard? Is your family split up because of separation or divorce? Whatever it is, God can breathe life and hope into the dead “bones” in your life too.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to trust You to bring life to the things that seem hopeless to me. Amen.


MORE: Human Bones
Find a photograph or drawing of a human skeleton.

1. How many bones are there in an adult’s skeleton?

2. What is the largest bone?

3. What is the smallest?



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. 

Get Out of Jail Free

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Isaiah 61:1-3

TO CHEW ON: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners," Isaiah 61:1


If you’ve ever played Monopoly, you’ll know that if you get sent to “Jail” there are consequences. You must miss your turn. You don’t get to move around the game board like the other players. By the time you’re free again, all the best properties may be bought by others. Unless you have a “Get out of jail free” card. Then you get to go free!

The way Isaiah described the deliverer or Messiah who would come someday sounds a lot like a “Get out of jail free” card. As well as bringing good news to the poor and comfort to the brokenhearted, the promise was that He would free captives and release prisoners.

Hundreds of years later, Jesus was about to give His first sermon. In front of the gathered listeners He started by opening the scroll of Isaiah and reading these exact words (Isaiah 61:1). And then He said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21)


By that he meant, “I am the one who Isaiah was talking about. I can and will do all these things.”

And he did! He hung around with poor people and let them know God loved them very much. He gave a brokenhearted mother her son back from the dead. He brought light to people of all kinds – from blind Bartimeus to the spiritually blind tax collector and cheater Zacchaeus. And He freed people from many things like sickness and demons and lifetimes of doing bad things.


The good news is, Jesus is still our Get out of Jail Free card! What is your jail? Is it a problem with getting angry at every little thing? Is it the need to be liked by everyone? Is it the habit of eating too much? Is it fear or swearing or being sneaky? Whatever it is, Jesus can set you free. Why don’t you ask Him today?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, my prison is ______ Please set me free. Amen.


MORE: Prison Break
The verse about freedom, below, has some large, bold letters. What word do those letters spell?

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

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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. 
ANSWERS

Power of Words

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Isaiah 55:8-13

TO CHEW ON: "As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10,11

Words are funny little things. As marks on paper or a screen they can make us laugh or cry, tell us good news or bad, prove little things like we’ve passed the test or big things like we’re the citizens of a certain country.

Spoken words have a lot of power too. I’m sure you’ve heard the playground rhyme: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Do you believe it? I don’t! Because spoken words have the power to do a lot of things, including hurt us.

If we think human words have power, how much more God’s words. These are the thoughts and ideas that come from the creator of the universe Himself – God. They are found as words in the Bible. They tell us about creation, people and God. They give us the good news that even though we deserve to die because we have sinned, Jesus died in our place. They tell us we can be friends with God. They explain how He wants to be the loving boss of our lives. They describe how we can live so that He will be pleased.



Are you familiar with God’s words? Do you read the Bible? Do you memorize it? Do you do what it says? Make God’s powerful word a part of your life. That may mean that your life isn’t always easy - but it will be full of joy and peace.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to read, understand and obey Your word. Amen.

MORE: God’s Word Search
Bible writers describe God’s word in many ways. Here are some of their descriptions. Can you find each word in the word search?

ACTIVE  FIRE  FOREVER  GOD-BREATHED
HAMMER   HONEY  LAMP   LIGHT
LIVING   MILK   POWER   RADIANT
RIGHT    SHARP   SWEET    USEFUL

Created with Puzzlemaker on DiscoveryEducation.com
To print this puzzle, click anywhere on the puzzle. It will open in another browser. Print that page.

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. 

Good News!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Kings 7:1-9

TO CHEW ON: "Then they said to each other, 'What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.' ” 2 Kings 7:9

What do you do when you have good news?
- Make very sure no one finds out.
- Write about it only in your journal.
- Email, phone, text-message and tell all your friends.

Chances are, you do the last. We all love good news – and love even more to share it with others so they can be happy with us.

Four lepers living outside Samaria didn’t have good news very often. Lately life was even worse than usual because they were starving. Their family members who usually brought them food were locked inside the gates of the city.

Standing guard outside the gates and surrounding the city walls was the army of Aram and King Ben Hadad. He wanted Samaria as his own. He was determined to stay as long as it took to capture the city. He was sure that when the Israeli people and their king got hungry enough, they’d be happy to surrender to him – just to keep from starving.


This day the lepers decided to do more than wait around to die of hunger. Since the only place there was food was in the enemy camp, they would go there. If the enemy killed them, they were as good as dead anyway. But if they soldiers had mercy on them and fed them, they’d have saved their own lives.

When they got to the enemy camp, what a surprise. The place was deserted. There were no people, only tents. Inside the tents were silver, gold, beautiful clothes and FOOD!



The lepers ate till they were full. Then they took some beautiful things and hid them. Suddenly they remembered the people in the city. They were still starving.

“This isn’t right,” they said to each other. “We have to tell the people in Samaria.” So they did. And by that night, no one in the city was hungry any more. Their lives were saved because the lepers remembered to share the good news.

We too have good news. It’s not news about food that gives us physical life. It’s news about how we can have eternal life and live forever in heaven with Jesus. Have you told someone else this good news? Don’t keep the good news to yourself. Tell your family and friends so they can accept Jesus and have eternal life too.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for Jesus and the good news of how we can live forever with You. Amen.


MORE: Siege
Samaria was a city surrounded by walls. It was also built on a hilltop. The walls and the view of approaching soldiers made it a hard city to capture.

Ben Hadad, the Syrian king, tried to capture it by putting it under siege. This means his army surrounded the city walls. They blocked the city gates. No traders or farmers could enter with food. He was hoping that when all the food in the city was gone, the starving king and people would give up. Then Samaria would belong to him.

Draw a picture of a city under siege.

(And if you’re puzzling over the mystery of the deserted camp? Read the rest of the story in 2 Kings 7:10-20)

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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.