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.

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.

Dressed for War

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 6:10-18

TO CHEW ON: "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:11


Why would anyone choose to wear a hot bullet-proof vest, a stiff camouflage uniform, a heavy helmet, weighty steel-toed boots, an uncomfortable gas mask and on top of all that carry a cumbersome weapon and ammunition? Only someone who needed a lot of protection - like a soldier in war.


Everything a soldier wears helps protect him from the enemy. His camouflage uniform makes it easy for him to hide. His helmet, vest and boots protect his head, chest and feet. His gas mask filters out poison or germs from the air. His weapon helps him defend himself or even take more land for his country.

Christians have to be just as prepared to fight against the devil. But what exactly are we fighting against? (Ephesians 6:12) We are not fighting against a]_____ but against the b]_____, against the c]_____ against the d]_____ and against the e]_____.

"The Armor of God" - Artist unknown, Lillie A. Faris, Standard Bible Story Readers, 1925-28

It sounds scary. But God gives us spiritual armor to use. What part of your armor have you put on by doing the following (Ephesians 6:14-17):
1. Do you live by truth not lies and deceit? _____
2. Are you careful to live in ways that are right? _____
3. Are you willing and eager to tell people about Jesus? _____
4. Are you trusting that God is with you and is helping you? _____
5. Have you asked Jesus into your life and accepted salvation? _____
6. Do you love and memorize God’s word? _____

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to put on Your armor and then live in alertness, always ready to ask for Your help. Amen.

MORE: Dress Protected
War isn’t the only time people need to wear clothing that protects them. Match the protective clothing with the people who would wear it.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
1. Padding to protect much of the body, and a helmet. ____

2. A suit that covers every part of your body and face, and gloves. ____

3. A pressurized body suit which provides you with oxygen. ____

4. A net over your face and neck, a coverall and gloves. ____

5. A mask covering your mouth and nose, a gown and gloves. ____

PEOPLE NEEDING PROTECTION
A. Beekeeper
B. Doctor or Nurse
C. Astronaut
D. Scientist in a germ lab
E. Hockey or Football Player

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.

Not Guilty

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Romans 3:19-28

TO CHEW ON: "But now God has shown us another way to heaven. It is not by 'being good enough' and trying to keep his laws.... Now God says he will accept us and declare us 'not guilty.' He will do this if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. We all can be saved by coming to Christ." Acts 3:21a,22a - Simplified Living Bible

Suppose you stood before God today and He asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” What would you say?

- I tried my hardest to be good.
- I did more good things than bad things.
- I doesn’t matter what I believed because I was sincere.
- My heart is clean because the wrong things that I’ve done (sins), were paid for by Jesus when He died on the cross.


I hope your answer was the last one.

One of the things Paul explained to the Roman Christians was what Jesus’ death means to everyone who believes in Him.

Before Jesus came, God gave the Jewish people rules about how they were to relate to God and treat each other (the Ten Commandments). And He told them what to do if they broke those rules and sinned. The punishment for breaking God’s rules was and is death. Before Jesus came, God required people to sacrifice animals to die in their place.

"His offering - a kid of the goats" - Artist unknown

Then Jesus came. He lived a perfect life. Then He willingly died on the cross. God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins just like He had accepted the death of sacrificed animals in Old Testament times. But now we don’t have to make any more sacrifices - ever. The penalty for our sins and the sins of everyone who has ever sinned or ever will sin is paid. All we have to do is accept it.

"Christ came into the world to save sinners" Illustration by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for dying and taking the punishment my sins deserved. Amen.


MORE: God’s Rules
We still try to obey God’s rules. But we don’t do it to earn our way to heaven. Rather we obey God because we love Him and want to do what pleases Him.

"The tablets of stone" - Artist unknown

How many of the Ten Commandments can you list?
(Check your list with Exodus 20:1-17).

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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.

Turnaround

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 9:1-9

TO CHEW ON: “'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked." Acts 9:5

Saul thought he was pleasing God by killing the followers of Jesus.

"Saul was breathing murderous threats" - Artist unknown

God saw that Saul was sincere. But he was also wrong. In one amazing moment God turned Saul around.

He was traveling on the road near the town of Damascus, on his way to kill more Christians, when a light blinded him. He fell to the ground. A voice asked, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Saul answered: “Who are you, Lord?”

Saul sees a bright light - Artist unknown

What do you think he meant by “Lord”?
____ A nobleman with a title.
____ The owner of some land (landlord).
____ God – the ruler and master of everything.

(I’m sure you chose the last one.)

Then the voice that spoke to him said He was Jesus. What a shock to Saul! In that moment, he realized that the person he’d hated was God. In that moment he went from hating Jesus and the people who followed Him, to following Jesus himself. Saul called Jesus “Lord” and he meant God, the ruler and master of everything. He gave Jesus the right to be the boss of his life. At that moment Saul’s life was turned around.

Meeting Jesus still turns lives around. We may feel we’re the boss of our lives but after we meet Jesus:
- we want to do what He tells us.
- we go from wanting to please others to wanting to please God the most.
- we go from being selfish with our things to giving them to God to use any way He wants.

Have you met Jesus? Has He turned your life around?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please be the Lord - the boss, ruler and master - of my life too. Amen.

MORE: Picture It
Draw a comic strip of Saul’s turnaround story. (Click on the box below, then print the page that opens.)




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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.

Dinner With a Sinner

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 19:1-9


TO CHEW ON: "Jesus ... said to him, 'Zacchaeus...I must stay at your house today'...All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.'” Luke 19:5,7

What are taxes? You probably know they are amounts of money people in cities, provinces, states and countries must pay. Government workers collect this money. They use it to pay for things used by everyone - like roads, schools, firefighters and the police.

In Jesus’ time, the Roman rulers charged taxes. They got people in each neighborhood, to work for them. These people were called tax collectors. They usually charged the people more than the Romans asked. They kept the extra money for themselves. Everybody thought of them as traitors, cheats, sinners, and hated them. Zacchaeus was a tax collector.

One day Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming to town. He wanted to see Him. But Zacchaeus was too short to see above the crowd. Besides, he didn't much like being in crowds because he was so unpopular. So he climbed into a tree and watched as Jesus and the crowd walked by.

Jesus didn’t care how the crowds felt about Zaccheus. When He came to the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting, He stopped. He called up to Zaccheaeus and persuaded him to come down. Jesus said He wanted to have a meal with Zacchaeus. Then what happened? Which three statements are UNTRUE? (Luke 19:5-9)

1. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus to his home.
2. Zacchaeus denied that he had done anything wrong.
3. Zacchaeus offered to give a quarter of his possessions to the poor.
4. Zacchaeus offered to pay back four times the amount he’d cheated from people.
5. Jesus condemned Zacchaeus and said there was no hope for him.
6. Jesus said salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ home.

"Zacchaeus" - Artist unknown

Do you know people who have a reputation as bad as Zacchaeus's? Maybe they’re known for being mean or stuck-up or stingy. Perhaps everyone avoids them. But you can be different. You can follow Jesus’ example and be kind. You never know, God may be preparing them to meet Jesus just like he prepared Zacchaeus. God may use you to introduce them to Him.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to show kindness to unpopular people, like Jesus did. Amen.


SUPERSIZE IT: Tax Facts
- What kinds of taxes do you and your family pay?

- How are taxes collected where you live?

- What are some things for which your tax money is used?

- What attitude should Christians have toward the people in government and the taxes they collect?

Some places the Bible talks about government and paying taxes:

• Matthew 17:24-26

• Matthew 22:15-22

• Romans 13:1-3

• 1 Peter 2:17

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. 

Born Again

TODAY’S SPECIAL: John 3:9-21

TO CHEW ON: “'How can this be?' Nicodemus asked." John 3:9

"Jesus the Savior of the World" - Artist unknown

Jesus told Nicodemus if he wanted to see the kingdom of God, he had to be born again. Nicodemus thought Jesus meant he actually had to be born from his mother again. Of course, Jesus didn’t mean that. But what did he mean?

He meant that Nicodemus had to have a new beginning (new birth) with God. How could this happen for Nicodemus? How does it happen for you and me?

1. Nicodemus, and all of us, have sinned (sin = disobeying God - even once).

2. The punishment for sin is death = separation from God forever.

3. Jesus is the only person who lived a sinless life. He is the only person who didn't need to die for His own sins.

4. But Jesus chose to die in our stead. God accepted His death as the payment for our sin. (It’s like when you’ve done something wrong, but someone else takes your punishment and you get off free).

5. Now all we have to do is accept Jesus’ death for us to be friends with God and have eternal life.

It’s all explained in John 3:16 (a verse you might know by memory):

For God so loved the world (God loved every person who lives, has lived or will live, so much)
that he gave his one and only Son (that He gave Jesus)
that whoever believes in him (so everyone who accepts that Jesus’ death pays sin’s punishment)
shall not perish (won’t go to hell - a place where we’re separated from God forever)
but have eternal life ( but will live with God forever).

PRAYER: Dear God, I put my trust in Your Son Jesus. You have promised that if I believe in Jesus I will have eternal life. Amen.

"The Bronze Snake" - Artist unknown

SUPERSIZE IT: Crosses and Snakes
Jesus mentions the story of Moses and the snake in the desert (John 3:14,15). You can read that story in Numbers 21:4-9.

- Are there poisonous snakes where you live? ___ What kind? _____________

- What should you do if you get bitten by a poisonous snake? _____________________

- When the Israelites were bitten by snakes in this story, God made a different way for them to be healed. They just had to look at the snake statue that Moses had made, and they got better.

In the same way, we just have to look to Jesus (who was lifted up on a cross just like the snake statue in the desert was raised on a pole) to get healed from the sting of sin.



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

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

Two Births?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: John 3:1-8

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

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

"Nicodemus" - Artist unknown

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

- Where does it come from?

- Where does it go?

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

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


ANSWERS





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


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

Scapegoat

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Isaiah 53:2-8


TO CHEW ON: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

It was the most important day of the year, the Day of Atonement. Everyone came to the holy gathering bathed and in clean clothes. Men, women, girls and boys had watched the High Priest make the offerings. Now it was time for the last event.

A hush came over the crowd as one of the priests led a goat to the High Priest. The High Priest laid his hands on the goat’s head. Then he confessed the peoples’ sins: “We have been selfish. We have been proud. We have not honored our parents. We have been jealous. We have lied. We have stolen...” On and and on he went. As he named the sins, his hands on the goat's head were a picture of laying all those sins on the goat. This goat was called a scapegoat.


When the priest was finally finished, he gave the goat to a servant. The servant took it to the desert and there released it to die. After the goat was gone, there was a party. Everyone felt happy. Their sins had been paid for for another year.


When Isaiah said, in today’s reading, “...the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all,” he was thinking about that scapegoat. Only this time the “him” was not a goat but a person. This part of Isaiah was another prediction about what would happen in the future. He was telling about a time a person would bear all our sins just like that goat did. Did it come true? Yes. Jesus was the scapegoat Isaiah was talking about.

The wonderful thing is that Jesus took the sins not only of the people living at His time. He carried the sins of everyone, past, present and future. When He died on the cross, He was carrying my sins, and yours too!

"Christ on the Cross
Eugene Delacroix, 1798-1863

There is only one thing we must do now to have our sins forgiven and to be a friend of God’s. We must accept that what Jesus did was for us! Have you done this? If you haven’t you can, right now. If you have, then why not celebrate, like the Israelites did at the end of the Day of Atonement?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for taking all my sins on You. Amen.

SUPERSIZE IT: Taking your place
Has anyone else ever taken a punishment or penalty you deserved?

Who was it?

What had you done?

How did this make you feel?

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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

Too Late?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

TO CHEW ON: "Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'” Ecclesiastes 12:1

How sad it is to be too late.
- You come to dinner hungry and find the food has all been eaten.

- You come to the garden wanting to harvest a crop and find all the vegetables and fruits are over-ripe and rotting.

- You come to a concert and find you are just in time for the last song.

It’s just as sad to come too God late. In today’s reading, we find out when is the best time to come to God.

1. When? (Ecclesiastes 12:1) ___________



In the last verse of our reading, Solomon tells us if we do come when we are no longer young, we must be sure to come “before. . .” Then he lists a whole lot of things: “before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring...etc.”

2. What is he really talking about in all these word pictures:
a] birth?
b] death?
c] wrecked stuff?

In this way Solomon reminds us that the most important thing not to be late for is finding, knowing and living for God. We only have this life to do that. We must be sure we do it before we die.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to remember You for my whole life. Amen.

MORE: Remember God – NOW!
Have you “remembered” God? Have you asked Him to be in your life? If you haven’t, do it now, when you are young. Don’t say you have your whole life to make this decision and that you’ll make it when you’re old, after living your whole life without God. You don’t know if you’ll ever live to be an old person. You don’t know if you’ll even live to see tomorrow.

• Find the ABCs of how to ask God to be in your life here.

(If you make that decision, please let me know. I’d love to hear from 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.


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