In Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 John 1-13

TO CHEW ON: "I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2 John 5-6

To “walk in love” means different things to different people. To some it means having a crush on a special person. To others it means having a best friend who is always there for you. To still others it means constant reminders of someone’s love in the form of gifts and nice things.

But really loving each other is not nearly as soft and fuzzy as the things above would make us think. It’s all about choices. It’s about not doing the unloving thing and doing the loving thing. It’s about actions. It's about loving things that we do whether or not we feel loving.

I Corinthians 13:1-13 tells us some of the difficult things a person who lives a loving life does or doesn’t do. Which ways to “walk in love,” below, are hard for you?

• Being patient
• Not being rude
• Being kind
• Not getting angry
• Not boasting
• Protecting others
• Not being proud
• Trusting others
• Not looking after my own interests first
• Being hopeful (positive)
• Not remembering bad things done to me (holding a grudge)
• Not giving up (persevering)
  

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me with (name the things you chose, above). Help me to make a habit of walking in love. Amen.

MORE: Love Lessons


Name one person whom you find easy to love.

What love attitudes and actions (from the list above) do you see in their lives?

What can you learn from them?

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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. 

Reasons to Obey

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 John 5:1-5

TO CHEW ON: "In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world." 1 John 5:3,4


Which of these people would you obey?

policeman    teacher       

doctor       parent        God

Did you choose them all? Name one reason to obey:

• a policeman:
• a teacher:
• a doctor:
• a parent:
• God:
  

We have different reasons for obeying.

We may obey the policeman because we know if we don’t, he can fine, arrest or put us in jail. We obey out of fear.

We may obey the doctor, even though we don’t like the taste of the medicine he gives us, because we want to feel better. We obey because it will help us.

We may obey parents and teachers because we want to please them. We obey out of love.

We probably obey God in all these ways. Before we know Him well, we may obey Him because we’re afraid of Him. Then we may obey Him because we think doing what He asks will help us. But the best reason to obey God is because we love and trust Him and want to please Him.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to obey You out of love, knowing You always want the best for me. Amen.


MORE: Obedience School
Have you ever trained an animal to obey you or to do tricks?

• How did you use fear and punishment?
• How did you use treats and rewards?
• How did you use love?
  

Which worked best?

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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 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.

The Enemy

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

TO CHEW ON: And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

The Bible is a story of a fight. The fight is between light and darkness, love and hate, obedience and rebellion, good and evil, God and Satan. This fight began in the Garden of Eden when Satan, in the form of a snake, tempted Eve. He persuaded her to listen to him and eat fruit from the tree God had plainly forbidden. Sin (any act that defies God and sides with Satan) came into the world.

"The Fall" by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1907

Through history, God has done many things to fight Satan. He chose the Jews, gave them His laws, and commanded them to make sacrifices for sins. Then He sent His son Jesus, born of a Jewish mother, who became the final sacrifice for sin. Now we have the Holy Spirit who helps us resist Satan’s temptations and live for God.

The final showdown between God and Satan is still to come (although because Jesus rose from the dead, we know Satan’s power is broken). Our verse today talks about a future battle in the fight between God and Satan. Satan’s servant, the lawless one (also called the Antichrist) will someday try to convince all people living on the earth to follow Satan. But though he uses Satan’s most powerful signs, wonders and miracles, his end will be the same as his boss’s. What happens to the lawless one? (2 Thessalonians 2:8) __________.

"The Antichrist" - Artist unknown, 1593

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to recognize and stand against Satan’s tricks. Help me remember he is defeated through Jesus. Amen.


MORE: Satan, A.K.A....
In the Bible, Satan is called many names. Knowing what they are helps us understand him and resist his ways. Look up each Bible reference and make a list of the names Satan is called.
1. Isaiah 14:12
2. Isaiah 27:1
3. Matthew 13:19
4. 1 Thessalonians 3:5
5. 2 Corinthians 4:4
6. Ephesians 2:2
7. Matthew 12:29
8. 2 Corinthians 11:14
9. 1 Peter 5:8
10. John 8:44
11. Revelation 9:11

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.

BIG Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 3:14-21

TO CHEW ON: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." Ephesians 3:17b,18

• The highest mountain on earth is 29,0781 feet above sea level. What is its name?

a) Mt. McKinley
b) Mt. Everest
c) Mt. K2

• The deepest ocean trench is over 36,0002 feet under the sea. What is its name?

a) Mariana Trench
b) Japan Trench
c) Aleutian Trench

• The largest ocean covers 64.23 million square miles. It is the

a) Atlantic Ocean
b) Arctic Ocean
c) Pacific Ocean

Does something in your life seem too big for you to handle? Remember, God cares about you and your problems. His love is bigger than any love you will ever know.

• It is higher than the highest mountain (Mount Everest - 5½ miles high)
• It is deeper than the deepest ocean valley (Mariana Trench - 6½ miles deep)
• It is wider and longer than the largest ocean (Pacific Ocean - 64.2 million square miles).

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to know and trust Your high, deep, wide and long love for me. Amen.


MORE: big, BIGGER, BIGGEST
How many more biggest things can you find?
1. The biggest land animal:

2. The biggest sea animal:

3. The biggest bird:

4. The biggest insect:

5. The highest waterfall:

6.

7.

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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.

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.

Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Corinthians 13:1-13


TO CHEW ON: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13



As you can see, we use the word “love” for how we feel about a lot of things. But the love the Bible talks about in I Corinthians 13 goes far beyond describing the feelings we have about food or things we like to do. This is love that expresses itself in actions.

Using your Bible (I Corinthians 13:4-8) finish each statement about love. Then unscramble the bracketed letters to tell one final amazing thing about love on the blanks below.

Love is 1.___ ___ ___ ___ ( ) ___ ___,
love is 2.__ ( )__ __.
It does not 3.__ __ ( )__,
it does not 4.___ ___ ( )___ ___,
it is not 5.___ ___ ( ) ___ ___ .
It is not 6. ___ ___ ___ ( ),
it is not 7.___ ___ ( ) ( )- ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___,
it is not easily 8.___ ( ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___,
it keeps no record of 9.__ __ ___ ___ ___ ___ .

Love does not delight in 10.___ ___ ___ ( )
but rejoices with 11.___ ___ ___ ___ ___ .
It always 12.___ ( ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
always 13.___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ( ),
always 14.___ ___ ___ ( ) ___,
always 15.___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ( ) ___ ___ ___ ___

16. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ (3 words)

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to love You and others with this kind of love. Amen

MORE: Love In Action
Below are some situations in which you might find yourself. Review the statements about love (above) and then write the loving thing to do or attitude to have.

1. You made the highest mark on the test.

2. The kid next door gets a new bike every year.

3. The meanest kid in school is in trouble.

4. A bully is threatening to beat up your friend.

5. You’ve heard your best friend is telling lies about 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.

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.

Centurion Summons Simon

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 10:1-8

TO CHEW ON: "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion...” Acts 10:1

Cornelius was not a Jew but a Gentile. It wasn’t only his race that made the Jewish people want to avoid him. His job was a problem too. He was a centurion (centurion = captain) in the Roman army. Roman soldiers often mistreated the Jews. Jewish people were suspicious and afraid of Cornelius.

But Cornelius had some surprising beliefs for a Roman soldier. Unscramble the words below that tell about him (Acts 10:2):
He (dreefa)________ (dgo)________.
He (vgae)___________ to those in need.
He (yrdepa) __________ to God regularly.

One afternoon an angel talked to him in a vision. The angel told him God had noticed his prayers and gifts. He was to send someone to Joppa, find Simon Peter and bring him to his house in Caesarea. God looked past Cornelius’s race and job, into his heart. He knew Cornelius wanted to know Him better. Peter (who was a Jew) would help with that – or would he?

"Cornelius is confronted by the angel" by Caspar Luiken, 1672-1708

Do you ever jump to conclusions about what a person is like because of their skin color, the fact that they are poorer or richer than you, or because you don’t agree on some things? It's natural to feel more comfortable with people who are like us than those who aren’t. But God loves everyone. Let’s make a habit of looking past people’s accents, the color of their skin or the style of their clothes. Let’s look at everyone through eyes of love, like God does.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to accept and love everyone, like You do. Amen.

"Roman Soldier" from Wikipedia

MORE: Roman Soldiers
Find out about the Roman soldiers.

• How many soldiers did a centurion command?

• What did a Roman centurion wear?

• What weapons did the Roman army use?

• Most Roman soldiers didn’t worship the God of the Bible. Who or what did they worship?

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 Sharing Church

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 4:32-36

TO CHEW ON: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." Acts 4:32

It was only weeks after Jesus had returned to heaven. But the people who believed in Jesus lived with Holy Spirit power and amazing things happened. The Apostles - Peter, John and others - preached boldly. Signs and miracles happened everywhere. As a result thousands believed in Jesus.

These new followers of Jesus spent a lot of time together - meeting in the temple courts, praising God and boasting about what He had done. They even ate their meals together.

"The Apostles preaching" - Artist unknown

Another thing they did was share – everything they had. In fact, people were so generous, they sold their things and brought the money to the leaders to help pay for the needs of those who didn’t have enough. Not one of those early Christians needed to beg, use food stamps or go to the food bank.

"They shared what they had" - Artist unknown

How do you feel about sharing? Is it hard for you to let others use, borrow or have your stuff? Has anyone ever shared with you? Which do you find easier, to share your things with someone or to take when someone shares with you?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to willingly share my possessions. Amen.

MORE: Share Your Stuff- Go through your closets, drawers and shelves.

- Collect, in a bag, all the things you no longer need.

- Deliver it to the Salvation Army, your downtown mission or any place that helps people in need.

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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.

He's My Neighbor?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 10:29-37

TO CHEW ON: "...so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'” Luke 10:29

One day when Jesus was teaching in the province of Judea Mr. Scripture Expert came to Him with a question. He looked proud of himself as he asked, “What do I do to get eternal life?”

“What’s written in the law (Bible)?” Jesus asked.

“Love the Lord with all your heart ...and love your neighbor as yourself,” Mr. Expert replied.

“Do this and you’ll get that life,” Jesus told him.

“And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus answered that question by telling a story (today’s “Read”). In it bandits robbed and beat up a Jewish man. As he lay unconscious beside the road a priest came along. He saw the beat up traveler and crossed to the other side of the road. A Levite did the same thing. Then along came a Samaritan.

Samaritans were people the Jews hated and avoided. Samaritans hated and avoided the Jews too. But this Samaritan stopped. He saw what bad shape the man was in and he took care of his wounds.

"The Good Samaritan" - Artist unknown

Then the Samaritan loaded the wounded traveler on his donkey and carried him into town.

"The Good Samaritan" by Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

In town the Samaritan checked the traveler into an inn and paid the innkeeper to look after him.

Then Jesus asked Mr. Expert, “Who was a neighbor to the man?”

“The one who had mercy on him,” he replied.

Jesus finished, “You love your neighbor in the same way.”

Why do you think the good Samaritan was called a neighbor to the robbed traveler
a] because he lived next door to the man?
b] because he knew the man?
c] because he was the same race as the man?
d] because he saw the man was in need and helped him?

I’d say it’s d]. And if you think of it, that definition of “neighbor” means we may have many more neighbors than we thought! Who is your neighbor? In what way can you help him or her?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to recognize my neighbor and to be willing to help whenever I can. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Being Neighborly
How could you be a neighbor (help out someone who is in need) when:

- Your next-door neighbor is ill and can’t walk her dog

- Your mom is late getting dinner, everyone is hungry and the baby is crying.

- Your friend is still sick after already missing three days of school.

- You see some of your classmates being mean to a little kid on the playground.


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.

What Would Jesus Do?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 5:27-31

TO CHEW ON: "Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'” Luke 5:31,32

One day Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi (also called Matthew) sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him. So Levi left his tax booth and went with Jesus.

"The Calling of Levi" - James Tissot, 1886 - 1896

Levi liked Jesus so much he wanted others to meet this new friend. He prepared a banquet and invited all his tax collector friends and Jesus.

Not everybody would have been comfortable at Levi's dinner. Most people hated tax collectors. One reason was they collected taxes for the Roman rulers. The Jews hated the Romans ruling over them.

Even worse, tax collectors usually asked for more than the Romans charged. Then they kept the extra to get rich themselves. People called them thieves and thought of them as sinners.

When the Pharisees and religious teachers saw Jesus at Levi’s party, they criticized Him. If He was such a wise teacher, how could He not know these men were sinners?

"Jesus dines with sinner" (detail) - by Paolo Veronese 1702

But Jesus didn’t care about their criticism. He knew that everyone – even people who did wrong things – mattered to God. Just because Jesus ate with these tax collectors didn’t mean He approved of their stealing and dishonesty. In fact, He called them “the sick.” When He became their friend He talked to them about God. He explained how God could heal their sick hearts so they could change their sinful actions.

Are there people that you’d rather not be seen with?

It’s sad that we tend to think of some people as worse than us, some about the same and some above us. We make these judgments by looking at the clothes people wear, the color of their skin, how much money they have, the way they talk, what they’re good at, whether or not they have a disability, what job they do. We treat people differently. We try to be friends with some and ignore or are mean to others.

Jesus wasn’t like that. He knew everyone was special and had value. He said that God loved everyone. But He didn’t only say it. He lived God’s love by spending time with unpopular people.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me see people the way You see them. Amen.

SUPERSIZE IT: Jesus and Your Friends

"Jesus and the Children" - Artist unknown

- Think of someone who is unpopular.

- Imagine you are with that person, and Jesus is with you. How does Jesus treat that person?

- Ask God to help you do what Jesus would do next time you meet that unpopular person.


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. 

No Compromise

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Daniel 1:8-20

TO CHEW ON: "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." Daniel 1:8


“Can you please change the diet of me and my friends?” Daniel asked the guard. “We’d like to have vegetables and water instead of the king’s rich food.”

“You’re asking a dangerous thing,” the guard replied. “The king will have my head when the four of you look weak and get sick.”


Daniel was taking a big chance by asking this favor from the guard in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. He and his three friends were Hebrew boys from Judah. They no longer lived at home but were exiles and servants in Babylon. The four boys were in special training to serve the king himself.

But Daniel was determined. He knew that the royal food was not prepared the way God had commanded in the law. He wanted to honor and obey God every way he could.

“How about we try an experiment?” he suggested to the guard. “You let me and my friends have the vegetables and water for ten days. Then you compare us to the others. If we look worse, we’ll eat what everyone else does.

The guard agreed. For ten days Daniel and his friends ate only vegetables and drank only water. Then the guard compared them to the others.
1. What did he find? (Daniel 1:15)? _____________



2. What did the guard then order for the other students too (Daniel 1:16)? ____________

Like Daniel we may be surrounded by people who don’t believe as we do. We may be tempted to compromise and change our actions to fit with theirs. After all, it’s hard to be the only one going to church on Sunday, giving some of your money to God and obeying your parents. But take courage from the story of Daniel and his friends. Refuse to compromise. For God not only blessed Daniel and his friends with favor from the guard when they honored God with their diet. He also made them wise and gave them success with the king himself.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to not compromise in my life. Amen.

MORE: Daniel Diet
Have you ever been on a diet of vegetables (fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts) and water like Daniel and his friends were? Try it for a day (of course you’ll want to get permission from your parents first).

Some things that will help fill you up:
vegetables (carrots, celery, broccoli, corn)
nuts (almonds, peanuts, peanut butter)
seeds (popcorn, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds)
fruits (orange, apple, banana)




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 Lullabies

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Zephaniah 3:11-17

TO CHEW ON: "The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Again Judah was in a mess. When King Manasseh died, his idol-worshiping son Amon became king. Amon was king for just two years when officials murdered him and crowned his eight-year-old son Josiah to be king instead.

God gave another prophet named Zephaniah, messages for King Josiah. Most were not popular. “God’s judgment day is coming,” he said one day. “If Judah doesn’t return to God, it will be destroyed, just the like nations around it. Jerusalem will be destroyed too. Only a few people from it will be saved.”

Then Zephaniah ended his stern message with the beautiful picture of a God who can also be gentle. He is a God who loves and cares for those who stay true to Him.



Have you ever seen a mother or father quiet a crying baby? How do they do it?

In our reading today, God is that parent. He quiets His restless children with love. He sings over them – lullabies perhaps or story songs that remind them of the things He has done for them.



Next time God seems mean and strict and far away to you, remember this picture of God. He is near you even when you don’t feel Him. He can save you from any problem you are in. He delights in you and sings over you. Let Him love you.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to know Your parent-love for me. Amen.

MORE: Pictures of God.
God is pictured in the Bible in many ways. These pictures help us understand what He is like. Match the references with the way God is pictured in each verse (one verse has two descriptions).

A. Psalm 121:4      B. Psalm 91:4
C. Isaiah 25:4      D. 2 Timothy 4:18

1. ______ Shelter from the storm.
2. ______ Rescuer.
3. ______ Bird who shelters us under His wings.
4. ______ Watchman who never sleeps.
5. ______ Shade from the heat.


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. 

No Spears Needed

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Micah 4:1-5

TO CHEW ON: "He will judge between many peoples
    and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore. Micah 4:3

Can you remember a time when there was not a war happening somewhere on earth? I can’t. It seems that every night the news is full of problems in one part of the world or another. It’s much more usual to get news of more wars starting than to hear of people getting along. But Micah the prophet predicts such a war-free time.

Micah lived in Judah at the same time as Isaiah. God gave him messages for Samaria (capital of Israel) and Jerusalem (capital of Judah). They were messages of doom. “Samaria will be destroyed. Jerusalem has become just as bad. Soon it will be flattened and just a garbage dump.”


But Micah didn’t only predict bad news. God also gave him a message of hope. “In the last days Jerusalem will come back to life,” he said. “God Himself will rule from there. It will be a wonderful time when people will want to learn about God and His ways. God Himself will settle the quarrels between nations.”

Micah described a time when peace was everywhere. In that time people wouldn’t need their weapons any more. Instead they would make their swords and spears (weapons) into plowshares and pruning hooks (garden tools).


Has this prophecy come true? No. It is something we can still look forward to. But isn’t it a great thought, to have God, who knows everything and is always fair, as king? Won’t it be wonderful to live in a place where everyone gets along? I wonder what they’ll find to put on the news!

PRAYER: Dear God, please bring this peaceful time to earth soon. Amen.

MORE: Peacemaker
Wars start small. Disagreements and hurt feelings grow from arguments into fights. As more and more people take sides these fights take over nations and continents.

We may not be able to do much to bring peace to nations. But we can do something about bringing peace to our home, school and playground. Here are a few peace-making attitudes. Can you think of more?

1. Forgive when someone says something mean, hurtful or untrue about you.

2. Don’t believe rumor or gossip. Find out what was really said and try to understand how the other person feels.

3. Refuse to get even. Remember, it takes two to make a quarrel.

4. Love all people the same, regardless of abilities, looks, race or beliefs.

5. Repay evil with good.

6.

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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. 

Loving Enemies

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Jonah 3:1-10

TO CHEW ON: "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened." Jonah 3:10

God did ask Jonah to go to Nineveh again. This time Jonah said “yes.”

When he got to this large city, he walked around, shouting: “If you don’t stop being wicked and violent, God will destroy in you in forty days. Instead fast, put on sackcloth and pray to God. Pray hard. Who knows, God might still spare you.”


Jonah was secretly wishing God would destroy Nineveh. It was the capital city of the country of Assyria. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty. They had often been mean to the people of Israel and Judah

But the people of Nineveh were not mean to Jonah. They didn’t tease or laugh at him. Instead, they listened. Even their king came out to hear what Jonah had to say. Then he did exactly what Jonah said. He told all the people to do the same.

In the days that followed, these people showed that they were truly sorry. They changed so much that after forty days God didn’t destroy them after all.


Still today no one is too hard for God to save. Our race, color or sex doesn’t stop God from loving us. Even the horrible things we’ve done in the past can’t keep Him from loving us. Instead He looks at each of our hearts. He will save anyone who comes to Him with a heart that is truly sorry.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You that You love and can save anyone. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Nineveh
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. The Assyrians were known for the cruel way they treated their enemies and the people they won in battle.

- Using books and/or the internet, find out some of the things the Assyrians did to conquered people.

- Do you blame Jonah for wanting God to destroy them?

- Are there people who have mistreated you and whom you wish God would destroy instead of save?

We need God to help us love our enemies, just like Jonah needed God to help him love the Ninevites.

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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. 

A Little Girl's Big Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Kings 5:1-14

TO CHEW ON: “Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.' ” 2 Kings 5:2,3

Suppose you were a little girl who, one day, was captured by enemy soldiers. They took you far away from home. Alone in a new country, you had to work for the people who captured you. This was what happened to the little Israeli girl who worked for Captain Naaman’s wife.

One day she noticed her mistress was very sad. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“My husband has leprosy,” Naaman’s wife answered.

Now the little girl could have been selfish. She could have thought, this man’s soldiers took me away from my parents. He deserves to be sick. But that wasn’t her attitude. Instead she thought about how she could help Captain Naaman. And she thought of prophet Elisha. He did amazing things. He had even raised a little boy from the dead.

“If only my master could see the prophet who is in Samaria,” she said. “He would cure him of his leprosy.”


Naaman’s wife told this to Naaman. Soon he was on his way to find the prophet.

When he came to Elisha’s house, Elisha sent his servant with a message telling Naaman what to do: “Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan.”


This instruction made Naaman furious. He thought the least Elisha would do was come out, pray and wave his hands over his leprosy. He wanted to turn around and go home. But his servants convinced him to do as the prophet had said.

Sure enough. After seven-dips in the Jordan, Naaman was healed! Because a little girl loved others – even her enemies – more than herself, God healed an army captain of leprosy.


PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to love others more than myself. Amen.

MORE: Leprosy
Leprosy was one of the most dreaded diseases in Bible times. There was no cure for it. It was also very contagious (spread easily from person to person). For that reason, a person who had leprosy had to move away from family and friends so their loved ones wouldn’t get sick too. They had to live alone or in colonies with other lepers.

Find out more about leprosy (now usually called Hansen’s disease) from books or the internet.
1. Do people still get leprosy?
2. Are there medicines to cure it?
3. How can you tell if a person has leprosy?
4. Find out about Father Damien, a missionary to lepers in Hawaii.

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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. 

S** - It's a Good Thing

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Song of Songs 2:8-13.

TO CHEW ON: "See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." Song of Songs 2:11,12

Have you ever had a crush on someone? Though you are too young to fall in love and get married, the attraction of boys to girls and girls to boys is how God made you. The two sexes, male and female, need to come together to make babies so human life will continue.

Though having sex has become a dirty idea to many, it isn’t a bad thing. Sex was invented by God so that people could have companionship and make new families. It is a very good thing – with the right person and in the right time. (Genesis 2:24)



Q: Who is the right person?
A: Your husband or wife.

Q: What is the right time?
A: After you are married.


The Song of Songs is a poem written by Solomon about love between a man and a woman. It is full of joy, hope, new life and celebration. It shows us that God knows all about sex and has made it a good thing.

PRAYER: Dear God, please prepare and keep me for the person I will someday marry. Amen

MORE: Hope Chest
Do you hope to get married someday?
- What character traits do you imagine your future wife or husband will have?

- What things do you think you will enjoy doing together?

- What do you imagine your family will be like?

Do you realize that your future husband or wife is probably alive somewhere right now? You could pray for that person. Pray:
- That God will bless them.
- That God will prepare them for you.
- That God will keep both of you pure for each other.

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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. 

Parent Problems

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Proverbs 23:19-25

TO CHEW ON: "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Proverbs 23:22

Have you ever had thoughts like this:

- My parents are too serious. They just want me to work and not have any fun.

- My parents are old fashioned. They don’t understand me and my friends.

- My parents don’t let me do anything. All my friends are allowed to do it, why can’t I?

Kids getting along with parents, and parents getting along with kids has been a big deal since kids and parents were invented. In our Bible reading today, Solomon gives advice to kids on how to handle all the do's and don’t's that parents give.

Which things he does not say Proverbs 23:19-25 :

1. Don’t join those who overeat and drink a lot of wine.

2. As long as there’s an adult to supervise, you can go.

3. Be disciplined.

4. Make a project out of becoming wise and getting understanding.

5. You become like the people with whom you hang out.

6. It isn’t a big deal to your parents whether or not you obey them.

7. When you show yourself a wise, good person, you’ll make your parents proud and happy.

Though it may be natural for kids and their parents to have some clashes, it’s important to remember a few things about your parents before you ignore what they say:

1. They know you very well. They have taken care of you for years and have lived with you in good times and bad.

2. They love you very much. Your parents work hard to provide food, clothes and a house for you and want only your best.

3. They have more experience than you have. They may have made some of the same mistakes they see you making. By giving you advice, they may be trying to save you from trouble.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to value, respect, obey and love my parents. Amen.

MORE: My parents

Appreciate the parents you have.

1. Write five things you like/love about your mother.

2. Write five things you like/love about your dad.

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.