Sunday, December 31, 2017

Come!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 22:12-21

TO CHEW ON: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.." Revelation 22:17

“Come!” What a welcome word to hear when we’re homesick. What a comforting word to hear when we’re lonely. What a delicious word to hear when we’re hungry or thirsty.

"Let everyone who is thirsty, Come" Designed by David Hetland
(stained glass window Trinity Lutheran Church, Jamestown, North Dakota.
)

The book of Revelation ends with this arms-wide-open invitation from God. Though our sins separated us from Him, Jesus made a way for us to be friends with God. God invites each one of us to come to Him by putting our faith in Jesus. When we do, God sees us as clean and holy. And we can look forward to spending eternity (forever and ever and ever and ever... to infinity) with Him in heaven.

"Little Children" by Darlene Slavujac, Copyright 2008.
Used with the artist's permission

God’s invitation is to everyone. God’s invitation is to you. Have you come?

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the invitation to come. I accept it. I want to be dressed in a clean robe and spend eternity in heaven with Jesus. Amen.



MORE: What’s in a Name?
The names Jesus is called in Revelation 22:12-21 tell us some important things about Him.
Which name (or names) reminds us:

1. Jesus has always and will always exist?

2. Jesus is a King from David’s family?

3. Jesus is a person?

4. Jesus should be the boss of our lives?

5. Jesus is pure and beautiful?


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.


Other Food: daily devo's

Saturday, December 30, 2017

The End of the Story

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 20:7-15

TO CHEW ON: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:10

When you read a book, do you ever skip to the end, to see how it turns out? Today’s reading is the place we’d go to see how the story of the Bible, the story of the fight between God and Satan, ends.
"The Fall" by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Published 1907


Throughout time Satan has tried every trick to win. He started out by lying to Eve and persuading her to disobey God - to sin. Through the centuries he has lied to, stolen from, scared and tricked people. When Jesus came, Satan and his demons worked hard to destroy Him. Jesus was killed. But God used Satan’s plan to backfire on him. For Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose, won over death and now everyone who trusts in Jesus’ death as payment for their sins wins over death as well.

1. What is Satan’s end (Revelation 20:10)?


"An angel casts beast Satan into the pit" by Caspar Luiken, 1712

2. The trouble is, Satan and his buddies don’t go there alone. Who goes with them (Revelation 20:15)?

3. How does a person get their name written in God’s Book of Life? John 3:16 has the answer. Fill in the missing words: “For God so loved the world (including you!) that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus) that _____________ ______________ ____ ____ shall not _____________ but have ____________ ______________.” If your name isn’t written in God’s Book of Life, it can be. Just believe in Jesus. The minute you trust Jesus, it’s there.

PRAYER: Jesus, I believe Your death paid the penalty for my sins. Thank You my name is written in the Book of Life. Amen.

"The New Jerusalem descending from Heaven"
by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-1860



MORE: Another Ending
What is the end of the story for those whose names ARE in the Book of Life?

Read about it in Revelation 21:1-8. Which things will be in heaven? Which things won’t?


sea                idol worshipers
water of life      tears
death              God
cowardly           pain
God’s people       murderers
liars              unbelieving
crying             New Jerusalem
magicians


"The New Jerusalem" by Darlene Slavujac
Copyright 1993, Used with the artist's permssion


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.

Other Food: daily devo's

Friday, December 29, 2017

And More and More and More...

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 6:9 -17

TO CHEW ON: "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?" Revelation 6:17

Have you ever read an exciting book where the closer you came to the end, the more bad things happened? You looked at how few pages were left and wondered, how would the author ever straighten this out! In a way John’s vision in Revelation is like that. John saw more and more bad things as more seals were opened.

In the fifth seal, John heard the voices of people who had been killed for believing in God (martyrs). They asked God, how long until He would punish those who killed them. God answered, it would happen, but even more people would be martyred first.

Then came the sixth seal. It predicted some things that have never happened on earth. Read Revelation 6:12-17 and list five things John saw:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

"The Opening of the Sixth Seal" by John Martin

Every day natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and erupting volcanoes take place somewhere on earth. The size of the disasters John saw here, though, were bigger than any our earth has ever seen. They help us understand how weak and helpless we humans are when we face an all-powerful God.

PRAYER: Dear God, I worship You as the one with power over nature and people. Amen.

MORE: The Seventh Seal

"The Seventh Seal" by Caspar Luiken, 1712

The last of the seven seals is described in Revelation 8 and 9.

1. What happens to the earth (Revelation 8:7)?

2. What happens to the sea (Revelation 8:8)?

3. What happens to the water (Revelation 8:10,11)?

4. What happens to the atmosphere (Revelation 9:1,2)?

5. What happens to people (Revelation 9:3-6, 18)?

6. This causes people to repent of their sins of worshiping idols, murders, practicing magic, sex sins and stealing. (Revelation 9:20-21)
YES?
NO?

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.

Other Food: daily devo's

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Four Secrets

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 6:1-8

TO CHEW ON: "I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say, in a voice like thunder, 'Come!'" Revelation 6:1

If you get a letter in the mail, the untorn envelope and the stuck-tight flap tell you no one has opened the letter.

In Bible times, scroll letters were sealed with clay or wax. This clay or wax had the imprint of the sender’s seal - an impression of his ring or special stamp. This seal told the person who got the letter it was from the person who had stamped it, and it had not been opened. What was inside a letter stayed a mystery until the seal was broken and the letter was opened and read.

As John watched scenes of heaven, he saw the Lamb (Jesus) opening seven seals. Although these seals weren’t on actual letters, they were messages from God, telling John (and us) things that would happen in the future. Read about the first seals John saw. Then fill in the thing that each brought (pick the answer from the words below).


1. Seal 1 (Revelation 6:2)
A ____________ horse whose rider brings _________________.

2. Seal 2 (Revelation 6:3,4)
A ______________ horse whose rider brings ________________.

3. Seal 3 (Revelation 6:5,6)
A _____________ horse whose rider brings _________________.

4. Seal 4 (Revelation 6:7,8)
A ______________ horse whose rider brings _______________.

Death    white    pale
scales = Famine   
Conquest      black    fiery red
power to take away peace = War

War, sickness, not enough to eat (famine, pictured by the scales) and death have happened on earth for a long time. But as Jesus’ return gets closer, we will see more and more of them. We don’t need to be frightened by them. If we see these signs in our time, they tell us Jesus’ return is coming very close.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me not to be frightened by these scary things that will happen, but to see them as signs that Your return is getting closer. Amen.


MORE: Sealed Letter
Send a sealed letter of your own.
  • Write a note to a friend.
  • Put it in an envelope and lick the flap shut.
  • Roll a piece of plasticine or re-usable wall adhesive into a ball
  • Squish the ball onto the middle of the flap with your thumb to make a seal.
  • Engrave your initials into the seal with the end of a pen.
(Note: Melted wax could also be used to seal the envelope, but MELT THE WAX ONLY WITH AN ADULT’S SUPERVISION.)

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.

Other Food: daily devo's

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

A Heavenly Sight

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 4:1-11

TO CHEW ON: "Day and night they never stop saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.'” Revelation 4:8

Have you ever seen an angel? Have you seen Jesus? God? Heaven? Most of us haven’t. But God gave John a peek inside heaven. As we read his description, we get the feeling heaven is so incredibly magnificent, John had a hard time finding words to describe it.

An Angel comes to Mary - Artist unknown

Look in Revelation 4:1-11 and then list:

1. Some of the sounds John heard:

2. Some of the sights he saw:

3. Some of the characters he watched:

But no matter how amazing everything else was, God was the center of heaven’s attention.

4. Where was God and what did he look like?

5. How did those who lived in heaven worship Him?


"God on His Throne" by Mathaeus the Elder Merian, 1625-30

God is heaven’s main attraction. All the glory and splendor and radiance and magnificence; all the cheering of nature, angel beings and people, belongs to Him!

PRAYER: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being. Amen (Revelation 4:11)

John's Vision of Heaven - Artist unknown

MORE: Snapshots of Heaven
Read some more Bible descriptions of heaven in:

Isaiah 6:1-10


Ezekiel 1:1, 25-28

John 14:1-4

Acts 7:55, 56

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.

Other Food: daily devo's

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Tomorrow's News

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 1:1-11

TO CHEW ON: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.... On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: 'Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches...'” Revelation 1: 1, 10-11

Where would you go to find out what will happen tomorrow? Today’s newspaper? The six o'clock news? The internet?

Of course we know none of these places will tell us. Only God knows what will happen tomorrow. So when God sent an angel to John (Jesus’ disciple) and told him to write down the things God would show him about the future, we need to pay attention. Most of the Bible book of Revelation is what John heard and saw in a vision about the future.

John on Island of Patmos - Artist unknown

Though Revelation isn’t as easy to understand as a newspaper, you’ll find lots of interesting things in it. It has disaster and intrigue, dragons and mysterious horsemen, heroes and villains. Best of all, you’ll find out how the story ends - the story of the struggle between Satan and God.

"Vision of Death" (Revelation 6:7-8) by Gustave Dore

It ends with Jesus the winner. He takes all who believe in Him to be with Him in heaven.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for this book about the future. Help me to prepare for these things and be ready to meet You when You come back. Amen.


MORE: Prophecy
Much of Revelation is prophecy - a prediction God made through a person. The Bible has a great track record when it comes to prophecies that have come true. Match the reference of the Old Testament prophecy with its coming true in the New.



A. Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt. (Matthew 21:1-9)
This was prophesied in: _____________________

B. A virgin got pregnant and called her baby Immanuel. (Matthew 1:18-25)
This was prophesied in: _____________________

C. People cast lots to decide who would get Jesus’s clothes. (John 19:23-24)
This was prophesied in: _____________________

D. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Luke 2:1-7)
This was prophesied in: _____________________

Isaiah 7:14
Micah 5:2
Zechariah 9:9
Psalm 22:18


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.


Other Food: daily devo's

Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas!

This is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. May your Christmas be a day full of peace and joy!

Here is a Christmas story for you to read:

My Messiah

I shiver under my goat hair cloak. It’s cold at night on the hills outside Bethlehem. I wish I were at home in bed. But a few weeks ago my father said, "Joel, you're 12. You need to learn the night watch." And so here I am, cold and sleepy, but I have to stay awake because it’s my turn to watch the sheep.

I look over at the flock, an island of wooly pebbles. Beside me, father snores a soft rhythm. Nearby, Abiram and Kohar, still awake, talk quietly.

"Plugged with travelers," Kohar says.

"Caesar is insane to command a census at this time of year," says Abiram. "He just wants more names for his filthy tax list." Then, lowering his voice so I barely hear, "I met a man in the village who's gathering an army to fight those Gentile thieves. He's training them to use swords." When he notices I’m listening, he stops. "The lamblet has, big ears." He winks at Kohar.

He doesn't want me to hear because of my father. Father’s the chief shepherd and he doesn't approve of resistance fighters. He has one passion. It’s to see the coming of Messiah.

"Messiah is coming," he always says, "and when He comes, He will be a true Savior. He will bring freedom and set up God's kingdom in His own wonderful way."

In the past, I never doubted him. But the talk tonight reminds me of the anger I feel when I see the Roman soldiers. They ride into Bethlehem and inspect it on snorting horses. They beat people who don't pay taxes. They make fun of synagogue teachers. They treat us like animals.

Above me now, the black sky is dotted with stars. Is there really a God up there? All my life I’ve heard there is, but lately I wonder. Maybe God and Messiah are only wishes. My father serves God without question. Yet for our family, things only get worse. The price for wool goes down, my mother has to open a stall at the market and my father works longer - for what? Just to give Caesar more?

I imagine my fingers tracing the cold metal handle of a sword under my cloak. I shiver, get up, toss a few sticks into the fire. The flames lick and began to dance.

Then blinding brightness!


At first I think something has flamed in the fire pit, but in the next instant, the sky turns from dark to dazzling and I see the light is coming, not from the fire but from a man. I can’t move. Is this God? Has He read my doubting thoughts? Is He going to punish me?

Around me the others sit up.

"Don’t be afraid," The shining man's voice booms. His bright eyes look right into mine. "I bring you the most joyful news ever told. And it’s for everyone! The Savior has been born tonight in Bethlehem! Yes! This is the Messiah, the Lord. How will you know him? You’ll find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."

Then the sky gets even brighter and as far as I can see are more shining men. They stretch way into the distance like an army, and they are chanting. "Glory to God in the highest Heaven. Peace on earth, good will to men. Glory to God in the highest Heaven. Peace on earth, good will to men."

It’s grand, majestic, the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. I wish they would never stop. But gradually the sound gets quieter and the shining army fades. Finally only the flickering firelight shows a ring of stunned faces. I hear the t-whoo, t-whoo of an owl.

Then everyone starts talking at once.

"Angels! Those were angels"

"Thousands, millions!"

"Messiah! He said Messiah!" It’s my father. "I'm going to Bethlehem to find that baby."

"We're going with you!"

"Father, what about the sheep? Can I come too," I ask.

"If God can fill the sky with angels, He can surely watch a few sheep," my father says, with a laugh. "Joel, I wouldn't have you miss this for the world!"

As we hurry into town, the talk turns to how we’ll find this baby in the whole town of Bethlehem, and at night. Father's faith is unshakable. "If angels told us about the baby, we'll find him," he says. "It’s a baby in a manger."

"Many mangers here," Abiram says as we enter the town.

Bethlehem sleeps. As we pass house after house, inn after inn, no one’s awake. Then I see a light.

"There Father," I point to the dim glow, coming from a shelter behind an inn.

We trot across the courtyard and push open the door. Inside, a man leans over something in the manger. Then Father and I hear the cry of a newborn baby.

"God be praised!" Father exclaims. The others crowd into the doorway.

The man straightens up and looks at us. "We have permission," he says. "The innkeeper—“

"We're sorry to bother you,” Father says, “but we were told about the baby by angels."

A young woman sits up from a pile of hay. Bits of straw stick to her hair and cloak. The man picks up the wailing baby and places it in her arms.

My Father walks over and crouches down beside her. "The angels called this baby Messiah," he says as he reaches out and touches the child, then kneels. "My Messiah."

The stable is full of a holy presence and we all fall to our knees.


As we troop through town on our way back to the hills we sing and talk and laugh.

Someone in a house along the way flings open a window and shouts, "Quiet down you drunks! How's a person to sleep?"

Father calls back, "We're not drunk. An amazing thing just happened!" Then he tells it all.

As he’s talking other windows open. He tells and retells the story.

"Incredible! Amazing!" the people say. "Do you believe it?"

At our hillside encampment the sheep are still there, all safe. Only embers glow in the fire pit. I toss in some sticks and sit close to the warmth. It feels like days since I was last here.


A minute later, Abiram comes and sits beside me.

"No need to tell your father about the resistance army, Joel," he says. "I won't be joining."

I think, neither will I.

Building Faith Muscles

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Jude 17 - 25

TO CHEW ON: "In the last time there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires...But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit." Jude 18b, 20

Have you ever met a scoffer? That’s someone who mocks or jeers you for who you are, what you are doing, or what you believe in. How many of these Bible scoffers can you name? (Need help? See the names of Bible scoffers and references below.)


1. “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks...Come here and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” ____________

2. “He saved others but he cannot safe himself. He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross and we’ll believe in him.” _______________

3. “What they are building – if even a fox climbed upon it, he would break down their wall of stones.” _________________

4. “What is this babbler trying to say?” ________________


Bible scoffers:
- Chief priests and teachers (Matthew 27:41,42)
- Goliath (1 Samuel 17:43,44)
- Philosophers of Athens (Acts 17:16-18)
- Tobiah (Nehemiah 4:3).

How did these people reply to those who scoffed at them?

David and Paul spoke words of faith in God. Jesus was silent. Nehemiah prayed.

Jude 18 and 20 tells us another thing we can do to help us stand strong: ____________ ____________ _____ in your most holy _____________.


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to have a strong faith that can stand under scoffing. Amen.


MORE: Faith Gym
Which things, below, would help you build up your faith?
1. Read stories from the Bible of people who overcame scoffers.

2. Watch TV shows and movies which make fun of Christians.

3. Memorize Bible verses which give an answer to scoffers.

4. Read books which try to convince you God doesn’t exist.

5. When you’re with mockers, pretend you don’t believe in God so they won’t pick on you.

6. Read biographies of strong Christians which tell stories of God’s reality and power.

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.

Other Food: daily devo's

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Be Blessed

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 3 John 1-14

TO CHEW ON: "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." 3 John 2

When you hear the word “blessing” what do you think of? Saying a prayer over food before you eat? The pastor praying a benediction at the end of a church service?

You’re right - a blessing is these things, and more too. Any time we ask for God’s favor or declare it over someone, we speak a blessing. Look up the verses, below, to see what the Bible says about blessing and being blessed, then fill in the missing words:

1. Paul usually began his letters by speaking a blessing of God’s _______ and _______ to his readers (Ephesians 1:2).

2. In today’s verse, John speaks a blessing of ________ for his friend’s body and soul. (3 John 2).

3. Jesus took ________ in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them (Mark 10:16).

"Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me" by James Tissot, 1836-1902


4. Jesus blessed or ________ ________ for food before eating (Matthew 14:19).

5. We will inherit a blessing by not repaying ______ with _____ or ______ with _______, but with a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).

So next time you’re wishing someone well, or saying goodbye to someone you love, or thinking what to say to the class bully’s insult, don’t say ‘good luck,’ or ‘safe journey’ or ‘your feet stink too!’ Rather shout, or whisper, “God bless you.”

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I’m glad You loved children and blessed them. Help me to speak blessing to my friends and enemies. Amen.

"May God...bless these boys"
(Jacob blesses Joseph's sons Ephraim and Menasseh)
Illustrations by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

MORE: More Blessings
- What blessing has someone spoken or prayed over you?
- What blessing can you pray for or speak over:
your friends
your parents
your grandparents
your brothers and/or sisters
your enemy


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. 

Other Food: daily devo's

Saturday, December 23, 2017

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?

************
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. 

Other Food: daily devo's

Friday, December 22, 2017

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?

************ 
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. 

Other Food: daily devo's

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Family Matters

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 John 3:1-10

TO CHEW ON: "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1

What is the stand-out thing about your family? Is it the way many of you look alike? Maybe it’s a special talent, like being a good athlete, actor or musician. Or perhaps it’s the way your family celebrates Christmas and birthdays in its own special way.

What is special about your family?

We probably resemble our physical parents - even though we may not know them. And the way we act is always affected by the personalities and habits of the families we belong to and live with.

There’s another family we belong to, not by birth, but by special invitation. When we ask Jesus into our lives, we become part of God’s family.

Just like people who are part of a human family resemble each other, people who are part of God’s family look and act like God’s children. Which things below describe how members of this family will look and act?

1. have obedient feet.
2. are often angry and go into temper tantrums.
3. are known for a gossiping mouth.
4. can be depended on to tell the truth.
5. swear a lot and use dirty language.
6. have kind eyes.
7. are known for their selfishness.
8. are known for how they love other family members.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for including me in Your family. Help me to act like Your child. Amen.



MORE: One-of-a-kind Family
Write a list of things that make your human family special.

Some ideas: - favorite family meal, memory, holiday, hobby, talent, way to celebrate birthdays, Christmas etc.


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.

Other Food: daily devo's

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Darkness or light?


TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 John 1:5-10

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


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


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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

3. Spend time playing with your little brother.

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

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

6. Walk to school with the kid nobody likes.

ANSWERS

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

Other Food: daily devo's

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

What time is it?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Peter 3:3-13

TO CHEW ON: "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8


How long is it from one Christmas to the next? From this summer holiday to next summer holiday? From your 10th birthday to your 11th? You know it’s only a year, yet it seems like a long time.

So when we read in the Bible that a thousand years is like one day to God, we realize that He’s in a different time zone than we are altogether. The idea of a 1000-year day makes the year which feels long to us only a few minutes to God!

The people in Bible times were a lot like we are. Forty years after Jesus had gone back to heaven and still hadn’t returned, people said, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised?”

Now it’s 2000 years later and though Jesus has still not returned, we know that He will keep his promise. After all, in the way God looks at time, it hasn’t been that long at all – only two days and a few minutes!

He could return any time. Are you looking for His coming? Are you ready?

"Jesus returns" - Artist unknown

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to look forward to Your return, knowing You will keep Your promise. Amen.



MORE: Keeping Time
What are some ways people have measured and kept track of time over the centuries?


Can you think of more?

Choose one way and find out how it works.

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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.

Other Food: daily devo's

Monday, December 18, 2017

Insults = Blessings?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: I Peter 4:12-19

TO CHEW ON: "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." I Peter 4:14

Which of these things has happened to you because you are a Christian?
- called names
- left out
- teased
- made fun of

It’s not fun going through things like that. But it shouldn’t surprise us. People in the past were insulted and persecuted because they trusted in God:

"Goliath" - Artist unknown
"David" - Artist Unknown



  • David’s older brother made fun of him when David came to the battlefield and started asking questions about why no one was challenging Goliath when he insulted God. (1 Samuel 17:28)

  • Nehemiah was teased by Sanballat and Tobiah when he began rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. They made fun of his work, joking, “..if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones.” (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:3).
  • Jesus said that his followers would be arrested, persecuted, even killed (John 15:20).

Which statements below are True? Which are False (if you’re not sure, read Luke 21:12-16 and Revelation 2:10)

1. ____ Jesus’ followers will be arrested and in this way have a chance to tell kings and governors about Jesus.

2. ____ Christians should worry about and plan what to say when questioned by those who arrest them.

3. ____ Christians will be betrayed only by strangers, never by family, friends or relatives.

4. ____ Jesus will give a crown of life to those who are faithful to Him through persecution.


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to stay Your loyal friend no matter what. Amen

MORE: Have You Been Persecuted?
Write about a time you or someone else was treated badly for believing in Jesus.

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.

Other Food: daily devo's