Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18

The Right Equipment for the Job

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What kind of items do you need to have a tea party? To have a tea party, you need a teapot, teacups, tea, plates, napkins, silverware, and snacks. What kind of equipment do you need for a neighborhood baseball game? To have a neighborhood baseball game, you need baseball bats, baseballs, baseball gloves, and bases. What kind of tools does Dad need to do the yard work? To do the yard work, he needs a lawnmower, a trimmer, an edger, some gloves, and maybe some protective ear and eye wear. When you need to do something, it is important to have the right equipment for the job.

Today, we want to think about what kind of equipment a soldier needs to be ready to go to war. Maybe you have a family member or friend who serves in the Armed Forces who uses weapons—both offensive and defensive—against enemies who want to harm our nation. The apostle Paul wants to prepare us for a different kind of battle—one in which each of us is called to struggle. What makes this battle different? Paul says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). We’re in a battle against the devil himself, his evil angels, and this sinful world who all want to get us to fall into sin and end up under their control. This is a battle for our souls and will determine where we spend forever—either with God in heaven or with the devil in hell. What kind of equipment do you need for that kind of battle? Paul says we need the full armor of God.

Paul uses the equipment a Roman soldier would use to be ready for physical battle to picture the equipment we need for the spiritual war we’re in. Look at Paul’s equipment list again. Every piece of equipment points us to God’s Word and all the things we get from God’s Word, especially the good news about the ultimate warrior who won the ultimate war for us against all the devil’s forces—our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we listen to his Word and trust in Jesus, we are ready for every battle. We have everything that we need.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, be with us as we face our daily battles with the spiritual forces of evil. Equip us with your armor through your Word and give us the victory through your Son, Jesus. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Who is our big enemy who fights against us?
• Who fought our biggest battle and defeated our enemy? How did he do that?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Reread Ephesians 6:13-17. List the kind of equipment a soldier wears.
• How do you “put on the full armor of God” for the war you’re in?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• We have daily struggles “against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil.” What do they look like in your life?
• What does our God promise to do for us while we’re in these daily battles (1 Corinthians 10:13)? What does God promise to do for us when we lose a daily battle (1 John 1:9)?

 

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Mark 7:31-37

A Hidden Power

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When the Super Bowl happens, it seems like everyone in America knows. Television stations display advertisements. News stations talk about it. And a large percentage of the nation tunes in to watch. When the day of the Super Bowl comes, it is a full production. There are pregame shows; the game takes a long time; a large halftime show; and a postgame presentation and show. It demands your attention. Once you hear about it, it’s hard to miss.

Jesus has more power and ability than every player in the Super Bowl. At the end of Mark chapter 7, he heals a man who is deaf and can hardly talk. Jesus proves that he is God; he proves that he has the power to save the world. This is a kind of power that should be on display, like the Super Bowl.

But what does Jesus do when he heals this man? He takes him away from the crowd and has a personal moment with him. He looks up to heaven. Then Jesus does the impossible in secret. Finally, Jesus tells the man not to tell anyone. Jesus does not put his almighty power on display. It’s the opposite of the Super Bowl. It seems like this should not have been written because it was so hidden. Jesus does not draw unwanted attention to his power.

This helps us understand how God uses his power. It is not for entertainment; it is to draw people to himself. God uses his power to prove and support his message that Jesus is our Savior. And that is what happens with Jesus’ hidden display of power. People recognized that he did all things well. More people wanted to hear about Jesus.

How does God use power in your life? It is not like how the world uses power at the Super Bowl. It is more like this man who was lame. As we pray for God’s power to be used in our lives, let’s remember its purpose; to show us our Savior, Jesus. If we know Jesus, we already have the power of God.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for displaying your power to us. Help it to build our faith instead of doubting you. Open our eyes to see the power already at work in our life. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is the most powerful thing that you have ever seen?
• How is God more powerful than that?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• In your own words, why did Jesus hide his power from so many people?
• What is usually the purpose of God’s power?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Create a list of all the ways that God has used his power in your life.
• What specific message about God can we, too, share with the world

 

Read: Isaiah 35:4-7

Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Isaiah 35:4-6

Opening Eyes, Ears, and Mouths

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God promises to do more in these short verses than just open eyes, ears, and mouths. God uses his power for so much more. Even though this will be fulfilled or come true, literally, are your eyes open figuratively? That means, do you understand what God is doing with his power?

On the Fourth of July in America, there are displays of fireworks. It is a way to celebrate. Families and friends, coworkers and neighbors come together to enjoy the fireworks. But at the same time, many people do not enjoy fireworks. People with bad memories of loud noises and tragedy need to stay inside. Some adults and children are afraid of fireworks. Some people who own pets need to comfort them. Fireworks have great power.

God also has great power. Through the prophet Isaiah, God reveals his power, and we enjoy hearing about the good things like healing. But sometimes, we miss the full picture. It also says that God is coming with vengeance and retribution. These are two bad things for those on the other end. Vengeance is repaying someone for the wrong things that they have done. Retribution is similar. God uses his power to punish sin.

So, how can we be certain that God will use his power to heal us—like the blind, lame, deaf, and mute? Or will he use his power to punish us?

The answer to that question is in the One who came to fulfill this prophecy. It’s Jesus! Jesus was God himself, and he came with power. Jesus used that power to teach against those who rejected him, but also to heal those who believe in him.

When we believe in God’s power to save us through Jesus, we can be confident that he will use his power to heal and restore us. He does not always physically heal us, but he has released us from the power of sin. He has opened our eyes to see his salvation and healed us from the crippling power of sin.

Closing Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for showing us your power in your Word. Please help us to have confidence that you will use this almighty power for our good. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What does God use his power for?
• How powerful is God?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Give some examples from other Bible stories where God uses his power to heal.
• What is the most important thing that God has done in your life?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• How did Jesus fulfill this prophecy from Isaiah?
• How will this prophecy be fulfilled on judgement day?

 

Read: Romans 9:30–10:4

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
Romans 9:30,31

Jesus is Like a Stone

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There are many things that can be both good and bad. It all depends on the setting. Fire is good when it produces heat, or it is used to cook food. However, a fire in a dry forest or burning a house is dangerous and bad.

Is it the same for a stone? A stone doesn’t usually seem good or bad. But in the book of Romans, Jesus is like a stone, and it can be good or bad. Imagine that a family is trying to build a house. They order stones and bricks to go around their house. This stone is good; it gives stability and protection. But the family also wants to build an in-ground pool. They start digging and immediately stop because they hit stone. This stone makes it very hard to build the pool. It’s in the way. If you have ever stepped on or tripped on a stone, you know that they can be bad.

If Jesus is like a stone, is he good or bad?

The nation of Israel had God’s law, and they knew it was good. God promised to bless them and protect them through his laws. But then they started to believe they could be saved through the law. When Jesus arrived, he taught them that he was the only way to salvation and not the law. This was bad for people who trusted in the law. Jesus was a stone that caused them to stumble. People today still stumble in their thinking when they hear about Jesus.

But Jesus is good. Jesus exposes false righteousness by the law but also gives us true righteousness. He gives us his perfect life. It is a righteousness outside of the law. He becomes the foundation for our life and salvation. A foundation is a stone that gives stability and protection. It is good. Jesus is good for those who believe in him.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for bringing us both the law and gospel. You showed us that trusting in the law can only lead to condemnation. But, believing in you means that we have true righteousness. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• How can a stone be good?
• What has Jesus done for you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What are other items that can be both good and bad?
• How does Jesus cause people to stumble, who trust in their own works?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why is it important that Jesus gives us righteousness apart from the law?
• Explain, in your own words, how you are saved by Jesus.

 

Read: John 6:51-69

From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave, too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:66-69

Are You Going to Leave, Too?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I don’t know if you know this, but the Christian Church in the United States is shrinking. That’s not the case in other parts of the world. The Church is growing rapidly in places like Vietnam, Zambia, and parts of South America. But not here.

Maybe you already know this to be true. Just think about your neighborhood. How many of your neighbors go to church on Sunday morning? How many of them are members of a local church? It’s becoming a smaller and smaller number.

There are many reasons why that’s happening, but one of the main reasons is that the teachings of Jesus clash with the teachings of our society. For example, Jesus teaches that:

• marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman.
• There are two genders, male and female. God created humans in his image.
• All humans of any age, born and unborn, deserve to be valued and protected.
• All people have fallen short of God’s requirements.
• All people need God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

Those teachings are hard to believe in our culture, and for that reason, many have left the Christian faith. However, this problem is nothing new. In Jesus’ day, his words offended many of his original followers. One day, after Jesus went into detail about who he was and what he came to do, many people left him and no longer believed in him.

At that moment, Jesus turned to his twelve disciples and asked, “You do not want to leave, too, do you?” Peter, one of the Twelve, said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” In other words, although some of Jesus’ teachings might be hard to understand and believe, he is worth following because he is the one who gives us eternal life.

So, now we need to ask ourselves, as many people around us might be leaving Christianity, are we going to leave too? By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can say, “No, we will trust in Jesus Christ. He has the words of eternal life.”

Closing Prayer:

Lord, as many people around us are falling away from you, give us the ability to trust in you, your words, and your promises. Please help us doubt our faulty human reason and trust in the wisdom you proclaim. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Discuss with your family: people you know and care about who are not Christians.
• Take a moment to pray for them.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Today’s devotion said the teachings of Jesus clash with the teachings of our society. Can you think of an example of that?
• How can you overcome that challenge to faith?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why do you think many young people stop attending church?
• What are some ways to safeguard your faith so you will not fall away from Jesus later in life?

 

Read: Joshua 24:1,2,14-18

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:14,15

Choose Wisely

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If you are given a choice between pizza or a burger and fries, which would you choose to eat? We get to choose which food to eat, but we can’t decide not to eat. We need to eat food to stay alive.

In our reading from the book of Joshua, the Israelites faced a choice far more serious than food. “Choose whom you will serve: the Lord or evil.” Joshua reminded his people how their ancestors worshiped false gods. The Israelites may have been tempted to trust and serve the false ideas and teachings of the unbelieving nations around them. Although they might not have realized it, they would not be serving God.

Now that Moses was gone and Joshua would lead them into the promised land, he gave them a choice. They could either keep trusting those false gods or put their faith in the one true God who loved and rescued them.

We have a similar choice before us and our families. We could either follow the ideas and teachings of our world or trust God. The ideas of the world say that we are in charge and that whatever makes us feel good at the moment matters. Or we could trust in the Lord, who says that there is actual sin in our world and our lives, and in Jesus, we have a real Savior from sin who calls us to live a life of love and service to others.

Joshua said that he and his household would serve the Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can make that same choice. We can reject the world’s lies and follow the truth found in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we have two paths laid out before our family. We could either follow the lies of the world or the truth of your Word. Holy Spirit, enable us and lead us to follow Jesus above all else so that we will live wise lives now and in the future. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Today’s devotion gives you the choice to do what?
• Why do you want to believe and follow Jesus?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How do you know Jesus speaks the truth?
• TRUE or FALSE. Following God is believing in him and living for Jesus.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Maybe you don’t bow down and worship the statue of a false god. But identify something in your life you love so much, it might become an idol in your life?
• Identify a way to safeguard your heart and life for the Lord.

 

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14

Math That Doesn’t Make Sense

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

See if you can figure out this simple math problem:

If a person had two Snickers bars and someone gave them two Hershey bars, how many pieces of candy would they have?

Hopefully, you said four candy bars.

You know how to do that simple math problem because you can picture two pieces of candy, and then you can picture adding two more. That’s simple. It makes sense.

But see if you can do spiritual math.

The Bible talks about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If you add God the Father to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, how many Gods do you have? According to the Bible, you have one God.

How can that be?

Well, because spiritual math doesn’t work like physical math. It’s not simple, and it doesn’t make sense in your head.

The apostle Paul says there’s a reason why there are biblical truths that don’t make sense in our human heads. It’s because only the Holy Spirit can unlock you to believe what you might think is unbelievable.

That’s good news because many things in the Bible don’t seem to add up in our heads. Here’s a “math” problem that makes the least sense in the Bible: All of our many, many sins + the death of Jesus = forgiveness and eternal life. That doesn’t seem to make any sense either. How could the death of one man mean that all the world’s evil is forgiven?

It’s not simple. It doesn’t make sense in our heads. But that is how God’s spiritual math works. And thank God for that! God’s math is based on God’s perfect wisdom and not our simple understanding. The good news is the power of the Holy Spirit leads us to believe that God’s math is always right and never wrong.

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, sometimes our faith doesn’t seem to make sense. In those times when things don’t seem to add up, please give us your Holy Spirit so we can believe in your truth and gracious promises.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Name something about God that doesn’t make sense to you.
• Who does God send to help us believe in God’s math?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why is the Holy Spirit so important to your faith?
• “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Amen.” Why is that a great prayer for you to remember?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• TRUE or FALSE. If the Bible says something that doesn’t make sense in your head, you should trust your instinct.
• Name something from the Bible you’ve been having a hard time believing. How does today’s devotion help you?

 

Read: John 6:24-35

Jesus said “The bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:33-35

Food to Fill You Up

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Did you know that food has energy in it? It’s why we eat and drink. You use up energy in your body when you run around, make something with your hands, or do some chores. When you eat food, your body turns the food into new energy. It’s called calories—that’s how you measure energy in your body. For example, a piece of toasted bread with some butter has about 200 calories of energy, and you could eat it for breakfast. But lettuce does not have much energy in it. If you wanted to get 200 calories of energy from lettuce, you would have to eat three pounds of lettuce. That’s 25 cereal bowls full of lettuce! Can you picture yourself eating that much lettuce?! If you’re shaking your head, maybe you’re thinking, “Lettuce doesn’t taste bad, but it doesn’t fill me up.”

Did you know Jesus said the same thing?

One time, Jesus took five small loaves of bread and turned it into enough bread to feed more than five thousand people. It was a miracle, and the people’s bellies were full. They loved the bread Jesus gave them, and Jesus was happy to make it for them. But when they tried to make Jesus their king so they could always have bread, Jesus wouldn’t let them. He told them they would be hungry again. Even if you had unlimited toast for every breakfast, you would always be hungry by dinner time because even bread, which has a lot of energy in it, doesn’t fill us up in the most important ways. So Jesus said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

While we live on earth, Jesus will keep giving us food so our bodies have energy, but he has something better than that. He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” In a way, Jesus was saying, “The best thing I can give you is myself. I’ll be the bread you need when you are weak and hungry.” Not hungry in your stomach, but all the moments in life you’re weak and trying to live away from God. That’s why Jesus came down to earth and lived with us. He gave 100 percent of himself for us. There wasn’t a moment of his life that Jesus wasn’t living for you. He faced every one of your temptations with success. Every test you failed, he passed with flying colors! He lived for you. He shed his blood for you.

The next time you’re pouring a bowl of breakfast cereal or eating a piece of toast, would you remember Jesus offers you food that fills you up? “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.”

Closing Prayer:

Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more, feed me till I want no more. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• One time, Jesus was with five thousand hungry people. Guess what he gave them to eat?
• What are some differences between what happens when you eat earthly bread and what happens when you trust in Jesus?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• When Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,” what did he mean? What did he not mean?
• Make a list of blessings God gives for our earthly bodies and a separate list of blessings he gives for our eternal life in heaven.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Think of a couple of reasons that make it hard for teens to stay “hungry” for Jesus.
• If Jesus is bread from heaven, what “cravings” do you have that only he can satisfy?

 

Read: Exodus 16:15-31

When the Israelites saw [the manna], they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need for each person you have in your tent.’” The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it , the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
Exodus 16:15-20

God Gives What You Need

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Did you know the average American makes $1.7 million over a lifetime? Wow! Can you imagine that much money? Maybe all that money makes you dream of living in big houses, driving fast cars, or eating fancy food. But if you asked a parent, they would tell you it’s impossible to get a million dollars all at once. They will tell you about monthly paychecks and money spent on food or a place to live. They will tell you about an incredible God who can give a million dollars over their whole life, but also a God who gives to us daily, monthly, and yearly. He provides what we need one day at a time.

Think of fruit boxes in the fridge or fruit from your kitchen counter. Just because there are lots of bananas and little cups of peaches in juice doesn’t mean you get to eat them all at once. Maybe an apple or banana at a time. You don’t eat the whole pack of peach cups in one sitting—eat one cup at a time, right?

That’s how God promises to provide for us—one day at a time. That’s what God taught the Israelites when they were in the desert in today’s Word of God. He provided them bread every day, bread that fell from heaven. It was miracle bread called manna. God told them to gather as much as they needed—but no leftovers. Moses, their leader, instructed, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” Some Israelites didn’t listen. They gathered more than they needed. That’s about as silly as trying to eat a hundred apples for one lunch!

Here’s the truth God is teaching in today’s devotion: It’s not wrong to have a hundred apples, and it’s not wrong to have a million dollars. But Jesus never told us to pray for a million dollars or a hundred apples. He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God taught the Israelites about that, too. He provided daily bread for them. They could trust the Lord to provide one day at a time, and we can, too.

Closing Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, give us today our daily bread. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What was the name of the special bread God sent to the Israelites every morning?
• How much bread did Jesus teach us to pray for in the Lord’s Prayer?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What lesson was God teaching the Israelites by sending them manna each day?
• Think of the food you love to binge-eat. How might today’s devotion help you reconsider healthy portions?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Consider the top three “wants” in your life right now. Write a prayer in your own words asking God to give you what you “need” for today.
• Predict what might happen to your faith if you spent the next ten years depending on God for daily bread.

 

Read: 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. . . The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.
2 Timothy 4:16-18

A Secret for When You’re in Trouble

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Paul was in trouble. He lived way back in the days when emperors ruled countries and lots of people tried to hurt Christians. It was only a few years after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. The apostle Paul loved to talk about Jesus, which is why he was in trouble. His enemies arrested him and put him in jail. They made him stand on trial and accused him of being a bad person. He was all alone.

Paul was in trouble—but he had a secret that made him calm and untroubled. Even when people yelled at him so loud that his friends ran away, Paul stood firm and brave. Paul had a secret that helped him talk about Jesus even when someone threatened to kill him for doing it. He knew something that made him sing for joy, even while living in a jail cell with a dirt floor.

What was Paul’s secret? He wrote, “The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.” Jesus was with him!

People nowadays get in trouble, too. Sometimes, kids do something wrong and have to face a teacher or parent for a scary conversation. Sometimes, those scary conversations happen even when nobody does something wrong. Sometimes, there is yelling, crying, and loneliness. That’s why you need to know Paul’s secret.

Jesus is with you just like he was with Paul. Jesus is the Judge (with a capital J) because no matter what we have done, in the end, Jesus will tell the world that we will not be punished because he was already punished for us when he died on the cross. That’s why, with Jesus by your side, you have strength. When there’s yelling, crying, or loneliness, Jesus is smiling at you because he loves you no matter what. When life gets scary, Jesus promises that someday we will live in a place with no fear, punishment, or trouble. He will take us safely to heaven, where we will finally see that he has been with us all along.

The next time you’re in trouble, remember Paul’s secret. Jesus is with you!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord, your mercies are new every single day! When I’m feeling anxious, bring comfort into my heart. Never stop loving and leading me because you know what’s best for me. Stay at my side until you bring me home in heaven. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is scary about being in trouble?
• What was Paul’s secret for the next time you are scared or in trouble?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What is another way you could remember Paul’s secret when you are in trouble?
• How might you use the story of the apostle Paul to encourage a friend who is scared or in trouble?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Explain how Paul’s secret affected his outlook about staying on earth or going to heaven.
• Based on 2 Timothy 4:16-18, what might Paul have said when he was on trial?

 

Read: Mark 6:35-44

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
Mark 6:41-43

Loving the Needy

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It’s probably one of Jesus’ most well-known miracles, the “Feeding of the 5,000.” Jesus and his disciples went by boat to a quiet place to rest. On the way, crowds of people hurried to get there before Jesus did. When Jesus saw them, he had compassion on the crowd and cared for their spiritual and physical needs. It was late in the day, and the disciples urged Jesus to send the people away so they could find something to eat. Jesus told his disciples, “You feed them.” All they could find was a boy with five loaves of bread and two small fish. Jesus had the people sit down in groups, give thanks for the food, and broke the loaves. He had his disciples distribute the food. They all ate and were satisfied. And there were twelve baskets of leftovers!

Jesus knows how to take care of the needs of his people. He might have been tired and looking forward to some quiet rest. Jesus doesn’t react with annoyance or frustration. He quickly adjusts his plans to serve the needs of people. He shows love and compassion.

Would you have done the same? How many times have you reacted negatively when someone interrupted your plans? It’s hard to stop thinking about what you want and focus on others. Isn’t it? That’s why it’s important to see Jesus’ compassion. Compassion is a word that refers to your intestines. Compassion is God’s gut feeling deep inside him and can’t be rooted out. Compassion is Jesus opening his hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing. He satisfied our hunger for forgiveness when he gave himself on the cross.

If God has met our every need through Jesus, what more do we need? May the sight of Jesus’ heart for service inspire us and fill us deep inside with his compassion.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, all my needs have been met by you. Thank you. Now, give me a heart of compassion so that I may be a blessing to others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• In today’s devotion, how did Jesus feel about the people who were following him?
• What does it mean to be “compassionate”?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How did Jesus meet the needs of the people in this lesson?
• TRUE or FALSE. If compassion isn’t your motive for giving to others, it’s better if you don’t give.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• What physical blessings are evident in today’s Bible lesson? What spiritual blessings?
• It’s hard to put others’ needs before your own, but try. Before today ends, find a way to do it.

 

Read: Exodus 16:1-15

Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day”. . . So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. . . Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’” While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud. The LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
Exodus 16:4-12 (selected verses)

It Depends

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Well, it depends.”

That’s never an answer you want to hear. Is it? You want to have your friend over. You ask a parent, and they say, “Well, that depends.” It might depend on if you get your room cleaned. It could depend on if your mom or dad had to be at work. We all know that “it depends” usually means more work needs to be done.

In our Bible reading today, the Israelites were wandering in the desert. They were hungry. So they grumbled and complained. They were asking for food. What if God had answered, “Well, it depends.” What if God said, “Before you get food, you need to stop your whining and complaining. You need to start appreciating everything I’ve done for you. Maybe you need to work a little harder to find food in the desert.”

Instead, God said, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread.” God didn’t ask the Israelites for a big “thank you” before giving them the gift of food. God was simply meeting their needs because he loved them. God already had a track record of loving them: He freed and brought them out of slavery. He miraculously led them across the Red Sea. Now, he was going to feed them in the desert. God literally “rained down” manna (bread) and provided quail (meat) for them to eat. This was his gracious gift! God delights in meeting our every need.

What if God treated us with an ‘it depends’ attitude? If when we asked for forgiveness, it depended on something we needed to do first? People often think that they need to make up for their sins. Many religions tell people there are things they need to do to pay for what they’ve done wrong. Could anyone ever do enough? This is not how God treats us.

God shows us the same generosity he showed the Israelites. God’s love doesn’t depend on us in any way. It depends on him! God sees our needs and wants to provide for us! We know that God meets our needs because he loves us, not because he needs anything from us.

Closing Prayer:

God, we know we are sinners. We don’t deserve the generosity you show us. Help us to be thankful for everything you’ve done. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What food did God give the Israelites?
• What’s your favorite food that God gives you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How did God show he loved the Israelites?
• How does God show he loves you?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Think of a time when you tried to make up for your sin. Describe what happened.
• How does it make you feel that God’s love isn’t dependent on you?

 

Read: Hebrews 13:7-8,17-21

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20,21

Power for Good Works

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Flip a light switch on in your house, and what happens? The light bulb turns on. But where does your electricity come from? It could be wind turbines near your home. It might be a hydraulic dam using water to generate electricity. Maybe you have solar panels on your roof that make electricity using sunlight. The power for electricity in our homes comes from somewhere else.

Is creating faith in people’s hearts as easy as flipping on a light switch? Not exactly! This power doesn’t come from the people themselves. All people are sinners whose every action is tainted by sin. David says, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). If we were relying on our own power, there would be no good works.

God doesn’t leave us powerless, though. We can see God’s power through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. God then connected everything Jesus did for us through faith. Faith is created in our hearts through the Word and sacrament—a constant source of power for our lives! God’s power is what prepares us to do good works. It’s not our power. It’s power that comes from God.

Pastors are great examples of God empowering people for lives of service. Wonderful pastors like to share God’s Word with their congregations. They spiritually feed their flock with God’s Word and Holy Communion. They carefully baptize children and adults in need of it. These things have the power to create and strengthen faith. But the power doesn’t come from the pastor; it comes from God. Jesus equips them to do his will. “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

So God has prepared good works for us to do and gives us the power to do them and leaders as models of faith to imitate. For example, you might hear about someone in need in your church or community. As a congregation, you can do a food drive to fill that need. It’s a way to show and share your faith. Don’t be afraid to talk with your pastor! Most importantly, you can have complete confidence that God is with you every step of the way. As you let your light shine, you can depend on him to power it.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me and giving me the power to serve you. Continue to work in me to do the things you have prepared for me to do. Amen

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Sing or listen to the song “This Little Gospel Light of Mine.” What does the song encourage you to do?
• Doing good works starts at home. Name one way you can show and share your faith to someone at home.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• If God’s Word is like a power pack for your faith, what are some ways to stay connected to it
• If you could meet someone from the Bible whose faith you would love to imitate, who would you pick? And why?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• If it’s important to stay connected to God’s Word, assess the tools and resources available to you in your home or bedroom? For example, do you have a favorite devotion or prayer book? How might a hymnal help?
• Think of someone in your life whose faith you want to imitate. What aspect of their faith do you especially admire?

 

Read: Mark 6: 7-13

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. . . They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Mark 6:7,12,13

Permission To Use Someone’s Power

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If someone gives you authority, you can do things in their place with their power. For example, as the teacher is leaving the classroom, she turns to you and says, “You’re in charge until I return.” She just gave you authority!

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus gave his disciples his authority. The devil is Jesus’ enemy. He tried to stop Jesus from accomplishing our forgiveness when he was on earth. He tried to keep people from trusting Jesus’ forgiveness. Sometimes, he fought against Jesus by sending his evil demons to upset people.

Jesus gave his disciples authority over those demons. The disciples acted in Jesus’ place, saying, “In the name of Jesus, leave that person alone.” And the demons had to go away.

Because you believe in Jesus, the devil is your enemy too. He doesn’t want you close to Jesus. He uses three steps to try to pull you away from Jesus.

Step 1: He tempts you to sin. He whispers, “Tell Mom you hate helping around the house.” He plants the thought, “My friends get more for Christmas. I’m not thankful.” He wants you to create a problem between you and God. In that moment of temptation, Jesus gives you authority. You can say, “In the name of Jesus, leave me alone!” With Jesus’ power, you can fight temptation.

…Sometimes, you still sin.

Step 2: The devil rushes in as soon as you sin. He tries to keep you from feeling sorry about your sin. He convinces you that your sin isn’t so bad or not your fault. But you are God’s child. You know his Word. You can say, “In the name of Jesus, leave me alone!” With Jesus’ power, you can fight the easy road of excuses and take the hard step of admitting your sin.

…It’s not over yet.

Step 3: You head toward Jesus holding your sin. You’re one step away from giving that sin to Jesus so he can throw it away forever. The devil tries one more trick. He screams, “Jesus will never forgive that!” But you are God’s child. Jesus stands ready to forgive every sin that you bring to him. He throws them so far from you and God’s sight that no one ever needs to think about them again. You have Jesus’ authority, and you can tell the devil, “In the name of Jesus, leave me alone!” Then, run to Jesus’ forgiving heart.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, our enemy—the devil, fights to keep us apart. But you are stronger than the devil! I trust your power to fight the devil’s schemes and keep me safe in your arms. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Who is Jesus’ enemy?
• Who is stronger: Jesus or the devil?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• When did Jesus win victory over the devil?
• Since the devil can’t beat Jesus, he wants to beat you. Can you remember the three steps in today’s devotion that he uses to pull you away from Jesus?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Sometimes, people compare the devil to a vicious dog who is chained up. He wants to attack us. He has power, but he has limits. Explain what that means to you in your fight against the devil’s schemes.
• Explain: When you come to faith in Jesus, you enter a war against the devil. Talk about that war and what it would mean if the devil didn’t feel the need to fight against you anymore. When will that war finally be over?

 

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. For this is what Amos is saying: “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Amos 7:10-15

No! No! No!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“No! No! No!” Ashley held her hands over her ears and shouted. She loved to play at the park. When Mom and Dad said it was time to go home, she tried to block the message by holding her ears and shouting, “No!” Poor Ashley! She wanted to block out that her family was leaving. She wanted to play forever! But there was the truth—it was time to go.

Long ago, God sent the prophet Amos with a really sad message. It was something no one wanted to hear: The King of Israel will be killed, and the people of Israel will be taken away by enemies.

“No! No! No!” cried Amaziah, the priest. He tried to block God’s message. Amaziah confronted Amos the prophet. “Get out of here!” he said. “We don’t want to hear what you say.” But trying to block the message doesn’t make it not true.

“No! No! No!” cry many people today as they try to block God’s message from reaching their ears. Sadly, some people think that Bible truths don’t fit our world anymore. Others call Christians stubborn because we stand up for the truth of God’s Word. They say people should be able to believe whatever they decide and live however they want. They say we’re all just trying our hardest to do what we think is right, so no one should go to hell. But trying to block the message doesn’t make it not true. God’s Word is the truth, clearly saying that God demands perfect living according to his laws.

“No! No! No!” cries our sinful hearts when we want to block out God’s message. Thank God he sends the Holy Spirit and brings his truth into our screaming hearts. He knew what was best for us. He ignored our cries of “No!” and welcomed us into God’s family. He used baptism to quiet our shouts. The Word of God continues to calm us with the truth. He said, “Trying to block the message doesn’t make it not true. You are not perfect. That is true. Jesus was perfect for you. That is also true. When the perfect Jesus died, he cleared away any punishment coming to you for your imperfection. True, true, true!”

Praise God that his truth is louder than our shouts of “No!”

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I shouted “no” at you, and you answered with “yes.” “Yes, I see your sin. Yes, I paid for your sin. Yes, I made you my child.” Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Was it ok for Ashley to yell, “No!” at her mom and dad?
• Has Mom and Dad ever had to confront you for yelling “No!” to them? What should you then say to them? (“I’m sorry.”) What good news will they say to you? (“I forgive you.”)

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• The Bible says that we are born enemies of God, shouting “No!” to him. What would have happened if the Holy Spirit hadn’t found us and gave us faith?
• What did the Holy Spirit use to change our rebellious hearts into hearts that love and trust God?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• God’s Law demands that we live perfectly, according to his rules. Why do you think people don’t want to hear that?
• God’s gospel says that Jesus did everything for our salvation, and the Holy Spirit did everything to bring us to faith. Why do you think people don’t want to hear that?