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. 

Is your faith alive or dead?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: James 2:14-19

TO CHEW ON: "In the same way, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17

Someone wakes you up at night yelling, “Fire!” How will you show you believe the warning? Of course you’ll get out of the house.



The sign says, “Beward - shallow Water.” What will prove you believe the sign? If you’re smart, you won’t dive!

It’s easy to connect faith and action in the physical world. But there are other things we say we believe just as much, but our actions (or lack of action) make our words a lie.

We say God loves everyone and we love them too. Yet we gossip and say mean things about others.

We say we believe God will provide for all our needs, and yet we worry, showing we don’t really trust God at all.

We say we believe everyone who doesn’t accept Jesus as their Savior will someday be separated from God forever in hell, and yet we never tell our friends about Jesus.

Are we kidding ourselves about what we really believe? You bet! What we DO will tell others (and ourselves) what we really believe way louder than what we SAY.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to put my faith and actions together to bring honor to You. Amen.

MORE: What Do You Believe?
- Name one thing you believe.

- How will your actions today prove that you really believe it?

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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.

What's Faith?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Hebrews 11:1-12

TO CHEW ON: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1


Think about some of the ways you show faith every day.

• If you jump from the third step, you have faith that you will land, not on the ceiling or against the wall, but on the floor.

• If you plug in an iron and turn it on, you don’t touch the bottom, because you have faith that it will be hot.

• If the light turns green in traffic, your mom drives through the intersection with faith that the people who would be coming across your path will have a red light and will stop.

In the same way that we have faith in invisible things like gravity, electricity, and people, God wants us to have faith in Him. In order to please God, what two things must we believe? (Hebrews 11:6):
1.
2

If we have faith in God, we will show it by doing the things He tells us to. Hebrews 11 names some people who had faith. They proved it by what they did. Match each person with the faith act he did (check the references if you’re not sure):

1) Abel     a) built an ark on
dry land (Genesis 6:9-22)

2) Enoch    b) left his home and went
where God led him. (Genesis 12:1-4)

3) Noah     c) walked with God
beyond this life. (Genesis 5:24)

4) Abram  d) pleased God by making
an animal sacrifice.(Genesis 4:3-7)

PRAYER: Dear God, I believe You exist and will show Yourself to me as I seek You. Help me to prove my faith be being obedient. Amen


MORE: Faith in Action
- Would you say you have faith in God?
- What faith act is God asking you to do?
- How can you prove your faith in God is real?

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.

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.

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.

Always Available

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 28:1-10

TO CHEW ON: "His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured." (Acts 28:8,9)

Paul had just come through a two-week storm and a hair-raising shipwreck. The sailors and passengers had landed on the Island of Malta. You’d think he would be asking for a holiday. But not Paul!

"Paul sails for Rome" - Artist unknown (after Gustave Dore)

First he helped collect firewood. When a viper (a poisonous reptile) fastened itself to his hand, the superstitious islanders thought this was a sign Paul was a murderer. They watched closely to see him fall over dead. When Paul didn’t die they thought he was a god.

"Paul shakes off the viper and feels no harm" - A Blois & A. Hourbraken, 1728

We know he wasn’t a god. But he did have the power of the God of heaven working in him. A few days later he healed the father of Publius, the Island’s chief official.

"Paul heals Publius's father" by Christoff J. Weigel, 1695

When the islanders saw that, they began bringing their sick friends and relatives to Paul. He cured them all. Paul was always on call for God to use him any time, anywhere.

"Paul heals the sick" by Christoff J. Weigel, 1695

What about us? Do we have the attitude that God can have a little bit of our time – like Sunday, but the rest of the week is our time, to use as we please? Or are we ready to do any job God gives us, any day of the week?

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to be available to be used by You at any time and in any place. Amen



MORE: Vipers
Paul had a close encounter with a viper.

• Find out about the common viper.

- from Wikipedia

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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.

Never Too Young

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 23:12-22

TO CHEW ON: “Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, ‘Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.’” Acts 23:17

Have you ever thought you have to be grown up to be used by God? Perhaps Paul’s nephew felt that way. Then came the day he overheard a secret plan.

He heard forty Jewish men promising each other they wouldn’t eat or drink until they’d killed Paul. They would ask the Roman commander to bring Paul to a special place. They would hide along the road Paul would take. When Paul and the soldiers came by, they would pounce on Paul and kill him.

The boy went straight to Paul with news of this plot.

"Paul's nephew" - By Johann C. Weigel, 1695

Paul sent the boy to the commander, to tell him what he’d heard. As a result Paul was never sent to the meeting that day. Because his nephew did what he could, Paul’s life was saved.

Have you ever thought you were too young for God to use? You aren’t you know. God uses people of all ages. The main thing is be obedient and do the things He tells you.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You that You can use people of any age. Please use me today. Amen.


MORE: Bible Kids "Who Am I?"

Can you identify these Bible kids that God used? Use the names and references at the bottom to help you.

1. I talked to an Egyptian princess, offering to get a nurse for her baby brother.

2. I gave Jesus my lunch of loaves and fishes.

3. I killed a giant with a sling and stones.

4. I heard God speak and later told God’s message to Eli, the priest.

5. I told my mistress God’s prophet could heal her master Naaman of leprosy.



A. A Hebrew slave girl (2 Kings 5:1-14)
B. David (1 Samuel 17:48-50)
C. A boy in a crowd (John 6:9-13)
D. Miriam – a big sister (Exodus 2:7 & 15:20)
E. Samuel (1 Samuel 3)


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.

Obedience + Persecution = Joy

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 13:42-52

TO CHEW ON: "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Acts 13:52

Barnabas and Paul traveled to Perga and then to Psidian Antioch. When they preached in the church (synagogue), many people listened and believed. In fact at one meeting almost the whole town came out to listen.

"Through this man (Jesus) is preached the forgiveness of sins" - Artist unknown

But the Jewish leaders didn’t like Paul and Barnabas because they said the good news about Jesus was for non-Jews (Gentiles). When more and more people believed, the Jewish leaders got jealous. They gossiped and lied about Paul and Barnabas and turned the city’s important people against them. Soon persecution started again. Barnabas and Paul had to leave town.

"Paul stirs up Antioch" - Artist unknown

What did Paul and Barnabas do? (Acts 13:51,52)
1. They were afraid and stopped preaching.
2. They were angry and fought against those who made them leave.
3. They left, but were joyful because they had done all they could to tell people about Jesus.

How could the disciples be joyful even when they were hassled and chased out of town? It was because they knew they were doing the job God had given them to do. It wasn’t their job to make people like them, agree with them or believe what they said. Only God could do that. But it was their job to tell about Jesus. When they did that, they were joyful, even though their hearers were mean to them.

Still today we can have joy in the middle of persecution. Such joy isn’t based on outward success but the satisfaction of knowing we are obeying and pleasing God.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to be joyful in persecution. Amen.

MORE: Joyful Times
• The Bible talks about people having joy at different times. Match each joyful occasion with its Bible reference. (Careful, there’s one that isn’t true! Which one is it?)

1. When they saw a star.
2. When Jesus came back to life
3. When being persecuted
4. Trusting Jesus is real, though we haven’t seen Him
5. When reaching our ambitions
6. When in God’s presence
7. When prayers are answered
8. When “eating” God’s Word

A. Psalm 16:11    B. 1 Peter 1:8  

C. Matthew 2:7-10   D. Jeremiah 15:16

E. Acts 13:50-52  F. Matthew 28:8 

G. John 16:24

• The trip goes on. Mark Paul’s mission trip route to these cities on your map:
Acts 13:13-14


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.

Gecko Burgers Anyone?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 10:9-23

TO CHEW ON: "The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'” Acts 10:15

It was lunchtime in Joppa. Peter (Jesus’s disciple) was hungry. While he was waiting for a call to lunch, a vision appeared. A sheet came down from heaven with all kinds of animals on it. A voice said, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat.”

Though Peter was hungry, there was a problem with the food in front of him. These were animals which God had commanded the Jews not to eat. They were called ‘unclean.’ Peter answered, “I’ve never eaten anything unclean.”

Then the voice said, “Don’t call something impure that God has made clean.”

This happened two more times. Then the sheet disappeared.

"Peter's Vision" - Artist Unknown

While Peter was wondering what that was about, Cornelius’s servants arrived at the door. Peter invited them in. They told him about the vision Cornelius had had the day before. They asked Peter to come back with them to Caesarea to talk to Cornelius.

Wow – what a coincidence! Or was it a coincidence? An angel told Cornelius – the Roman soldier – to send for Peter. Meanwhile, Peter had a vision telling him that some of the old rules had changed.

Would Peter go? What would you have done if you were Peter?

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to hear Your voice in every way You speak to me. Amen.

SUPERSIZE IT: Foods Rule Or Food Rules?
The rules about clean and unclean foods that Peter thought about when he had the vision are found in Leviticus 11.

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

Which animals were the Jews allowed to eat? Which ones were unclean?
Leviticus 11:1-23
Leviticus 11:29-30

CAMEL     PIG
COW (animal with split hoof that chews cud)
RAT       RAVEN     CRICKET
FISH (animal with fins and scales)
STARFISH  GECKO     QUAIL
LOCUST    SHEEP     LIZARD

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.

When God says "Go"

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 9:10-19

TO CHEW ON: "But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go.'” Acts 9:15

Saul had a reputation. Followers of Jesus (Christians) knew him as someone who showed no mercy. Imagine Ananias’s (not the same Ananias as “Ananias and Sapphira”) surprise when God told him, in a vision, to go to Straight Street in Damascus and pray for Saul, his dangerous enemy.

At first Ananias argued, “God, You can’t mean that! Don’t you know who this man is?”

But God’s answer to Ananias was “Go.” For God knew what had happened to Saul three days before. He didn’t tell Ananias that it would be safe. He just asked Annanias to obey. So Annanias went.

"Saul and Ananias"
by Benjamin West (1738-1820)

When he got to the house, Ananias didn’t meet the dangerous persecutor Saul he expected. Instead he met the blind and helpless baby Christian Saul.

Ananias put his hands on Saul’s shoulders. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. He could see again! He asked to be baptized, ate some food and began his life as a Christian.

It’s important that, like Ananias, we obey God when He gives us an assignment. We may not understand why God wants us to do something. But we can be sure that He is at work preparing the person or the situation for our words or our help.

PRAYER: Dear God, please give me the courage to obey You, even when what You ask me to do doesn’t make sense. Amen.


MORE: Visions
God spoke to Ananias in a vision.
1. How might a vision be different than a dream?



2. Here are some more vision stories from the Bible:

• A man’s mouth is touched by an angel carrying a hot coal - Isaiah 6:1-8

• A man sees God’s protecting army - 2 Kings 6:15-17

• A man gets a glimpse of heaven - Acts 7:55-56

3. Do you think God still gives people visions today? Why do you think as you do?

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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.

Obey Whom?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 4:13-21

TO CHEW ON: "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!'” Acts 4:18,19

After God healed the lame man through Peter, many people believed in Jesus. This made the religious leaders jealous.

"Preaching to the multitudes" - Artist unknown

First they ordered Peter and John to stop preaching. Then they grilled them with questions. Finally they told them not to speak of Jesus any more OR ELSE and let them go.

"The boldness of Peter and John" - Artist unknown

But Peter and John had no intention of obeying the leaders’ order. They knew in some things it’s more important to obey God than people.

"Peter and John before the Sanhedrin" - Artist unknown

What about today? Can you think of a situation when you would need to disobey what someone told you to do or the law of your land in order to obey God?


PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to know when I should obey You even if it means I would be disobeying others. Then give me the courage to do what pleases You. Amen.


MORE: Hard Choices
Are there times when we too have to choose between obeying God and people? What would you do in the following situations? Why?

• You see your friend steal something. Your friend demands that you don’t tell.

• Someone on the phone asks for your dad, but he tells you to say he’s not home.

• On the school playground you talk to a friend about Jesus. Someone tells the teacher and she asks you never to talk about Jesus on school property again.

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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.

When God Says "No"

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Matthew 26:36-46

TO CHEW ON: “'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'” - Jesus, Matthew 26:39

After Jesus and His disciples had eaten the Passover meal they went for a walk. They walked to a garden called Gethsemane. But it was not a relaxing, enjoyable time for Jesus. He knew what was ahead of Him.
1. Choose the words that describe how He felt: (Matthew 26:37,38)

Happy   Sorrowful    Giddy  

Troubled    Relaxed    Sleepy   

Overwhelmed    Angry

It’s easy to think of Jesus as someone who was so God-like that He wasn’t affected by sadness, dread or wanting His own way. But here, in this garden, we see Jesus praying, and begging His heavenly Father for something.
2. What does He ask for? (Matthew 26:39) _________________________________.

Jesus praying in the Garden - Artist unknown

Jesus knew that physical torture and pain were ahead of Him. Worse than that, He knew that in a few hours, He would be separated from God the Father and all that was good. But as He prayed, He became absolutely sure of God’s answer to His request. It was ‘no.’ There was no ‘Plan B.’ So instead of insisting on his own way, Jesus says:
3. (Matthew 26:39) “Yet not as ___ will, but as ___ will.”
4. (Matthew 26:42) “...may ______ will be done.”

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to learn to say ‘yes’ to God - like Jesus did. Amen.

MORE: Places to Pray
On this night Jesus went to pray in a garden.

• Where do you usually go to pray?

• List three other places you could go to talk to God.

1.
2.
3.

• Go to one of those places today and have a prayer conversation with God.

ANSWERS

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

A Solid House

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 6:46-49

TO CHEW ON: "As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock." Luke 6:47-48a

Which part of a house is built first:

- the walls?
- the roof?
- the rooms?
- the front porch?
- the foundation?
- the basement?

You probably know that the foundation of a house is the very first thing a builder makes. He usually starts building that foundation by digging a hole. If he can dig down to bedrock and fasten the house’s foundation onto rock, the house will be almost immovable. But if a house’s foundation rests on earth or sand, it can be swept away by floods, toppled by earthquakes and smashed by storms.

One day Jesus told a story of one man who built his house on a rock. Another man built his house on sand. When the storm came, which house stayed standing?

"The house upon the rock and the house upon the sand" by William James Webb

Jesus explained the story. He said those houses on their different foundations are like our lives. When we hear His words and put them into practice, we are building the house of our life on the foundation of solid bedrock. When we hear His words but don’t do them, we’re building our life’s house on sand.

Here are some foundations on which you could build your life. Which one will you choose?

- What other people think.
- Money
- Happiness
- Comfort
- Obeying Jesus’ words.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to hear, understand and obey Your words. Amen


SUPERSIZE IT: Houses In Many Places
Find out about houses in different places.

- How would you build a house’s foundation in the arctic, where the ground is either frozen solid or thaws to become a bog?

- Why are houses sometimes built on stilts?

- What kinds of houses are built in the dessert?


- What kinds of houses are built in the jungle?


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. 

Fish!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 5: 1-11

TO CHEW ON: "He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat." Luke 5:3

Would you lend it?

~ Your friend asks to borrow your bike to deliver papers.
~ Your sister needs to use your markers to finish her homework.
~ Your mom needs to borrow change from you for the parking meter.

Would you lend these things? Your answer will probably show if you’re the kind of person who easily shares your things or likes to keep them for yourself.

Simon must have been a sharer. One day Jesus got into Simon’s boat, asked him to row it a way from the shore and then used it as a platform for teaching the people. Never once did Simon say: “Why should I let you use my boat?”

"Jesus teaching from a boat" - James Tissot

Later, after the people went home, Jesus thanked Simon in an amazing way. Though Simon and his partners hadn’t caught any fish the night before, Jesus told Simon to try fishing again. What happened when they let down their nets now? (Luke 5:6) ________________

"The calling of the first disciples" - Artist unknown

Simon, James and John were shocked at the number of fish they caught when Jesus was with them. Now they had proof Jesus was no ordinary person. They decided to stop being fishermen for a while. They left their boats to be with Him.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to let You use me and my things as You like. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Fishing
What’s your favorite kind of fish to eat?

How many ways can you think of to catch fish? List them.

ANSWERS


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

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

Wise Child

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 2: 39-52


TO CHEW ON: "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was on him." Luke 2:40

Jesus’ family spent a few years in Egypt. One night God told Joseph in a dream that it was now safe to go back home. So Joseph, Mary and Jesus traveled back to live in Nazareth where Joseph and Mary had lived before Jesus was born.

Every year, Jesus’ family went to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The year Jesus was 12, his parents were already on their way home when they realized Jesus wasn’t with them or their friends. When they went back to Jerusalem, they found Him in the temple.
4. He was __________ (gnitlsnei) and 5. ___________ ( isgkan) questions. (Luke 2:46)

“Why did you look for me?” he asked his anxious parents. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Of course, they didn’t understand that the Father He was talking about was God.

"Jesus Found in the Temple" (Standard Bible Story Readers Book One)

After this, though He knew He had a special job to do on earth, He went home and obeyed His earthly parents until it was time for Him to start His work. Unscramble the words that tell about Jesus as a child and young man: (Luke 2:40)

1. He ________ (wrge)
2. He became _________ (rsngto)
3. He was filled with ___________ (mwoids)

"Jesus Grew"
(Standard Bible Story Reader Book One)

Can children still be known for their wisdom? What do you think a wise child looks like nowadays?

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to grow in body and mind, to become strong and to be filled with wisdom. Amen

SUPERSIZE IT: Wise or Foolish?
Below are some things you might or might not do.

Put a W beside each thing a wise child would do.
Put an F beside each thing a foolish child would do.

1.____ Eat only sweets.
2.____ Get involved in a sport like soccer, hockey, swimming or track.
3.____ Cycle, skateboard or rollerblade without protective gear.
4.____ Read the Bible regularly
5.____ Sit around watching TV or playing video games all day.
6.____ Ask questions when you don’t understand things.
7.____ Pray any time.
8.____ Don’t bother washing your hands before eating.
9.____ Believe everything everyone tells you.
10.____ Listen a lot.
11.____ Obey your parents.
12.____ Always say the first thing that comes into your head.

ANSWERS

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

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

Special Assignment

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 1:26-38


TO CHEW ON: "The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.'” Luke 1:28

Has anyone ever told you that you’re special? Perhaps your teacher singled you out as the person who did a great job of the project. Maybe your parents were surprised at how thoroughly you cleaned your room. Your friends may say things like, “I love being with you, because you make me laugh.”

Imagine getting such a message from God! That’s what happened to Mary. He sent an angel to her. The angel told her she was highly favored. Then the angel told her about an assignment that God had just for her.

"The Annunciation" by James Tissot - 1886 - 1896

She would have a special baby. She was to name Him Jesus. He would be called the Son of the Most High because God would be the baby’s father. He would be a king of the family of David. He would reign forever.

Mary was puzzled. She wasn’t even married. “How will this happen?” she asked.

“God’s power will bring it about,” the angel told her.

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

God has a special job for your life too. You probably won’t find out what it is through an angel. But God will show you, at the right time, how He wants to use you. Decide today to be as quick to let God work His plan through you as Mary was.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to listen and be obedient to You today and always. Amen.

SUPERSIZE IT: God’s Words to You
The angel said to Mary, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

If an angel came to you with a message from God, what things might he say to you?

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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 Comes Near

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Nehemiah 8:1-18

TO CHEW ON: "Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it the people stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted up their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." Nehemiah 8:5,6

The wall was finished. It was time to celebrate! But instead of a lively party, the people gathered in the square at the Water Gate and asked Ezra to read the law.



They had just been part of an amazing project. They had seen how God had helped and protected them. Now they wanted to know how to keep pleasing Him.

Ezra stood on a high platform with the people all around. As soon as he opened the book, everyone stood up. After he praised God, the people raised their hands and said, “Amen! Amen!” and bowed to the ground in worship.

Then Ezra began reading. Nehemiah and the priests and Levites joined him on stage. From time to time they explained what the reading meant. Soon there was a sound of sobbing from the crowd, then weeping, then loud crying. As the people heard God’s law they realized how much they had disobeyed it. They were full of sadness and regret.


But the next day the people wanted to hear more. When Ezra read about Festival of Tabernacles God had told them to celebrate in September – which was now – they set right to work. They gathered branches, made little shelters and for the first time in years celebrated as God had told them to.

A new love and respect for God came to the people in Jerusalem after they had rebuilt the wall. They confessed their sins and were careful to keep God’s laws again. After they were obedient in helping with this project, God’s love and presence felt more real than it had for years.

It’s not so different for us. Is there something we know God wants us to do? We should obey and do that thing. Then we shouldn’t be surprised if God feels close to us again and gives us a special sense of how much He loves us.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to be obedient and know Your love and pleasure. Amen.


MORE: Festival of Tabernacles
God told the Israelites how to celebrate this festival in Leviticus 23:33-44. The way Nehemiah and the people did it is in Nehemiah 8:14-17. Using your Bible, books and the internet, find out about the Festival of Tabernacles (Booths):
1. When was it to be celebrated?

2. How long was the celebration?

3. What were the people to live in during this time?

4. What was this festival to remind them of?

5. Is it still celebrated by Jews today? How?

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.