Chosen for Victory – Family Devotion – November 15, 2021

Read: Mark 13:24-27

“But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.”
Mark 13:24-27

Chosen for Victory

 

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

“Oooh! Oooh! Pick me! Pick me!” All the kids at recess were yelling at Tony. Tony was an eighth grader who was big, strong, and very athletic. Clearly Tony was the best kickball player in school, and all the kids wanted to be on his team. “Tony! Over here!” “No, Tony! Me! Pick me!”

Not only was Tony super cool and super nice, everyone knew that if you were on Tony’s team you were basically guaranteed to win the game that day. Even if you weren’t good at kickball, with Tony on your team, victory would be yours. How wonderful for those chosen for Tony’s team, yet how sad for those on the other team!

There is a day coming soon when all people will be divided onto one side or the other. But this will not be for a worldwide kickball game. The event will be the Last Day, or judgment day, and all people will either be on Jesus’ side and go to heaven or Satan’s side and go to hell. Jesus himself describes this day in these verses from Mark 13. He says that he will come back in clouds with great power and glory and will send his angels to gather his elect, his chosen people.

You might wonder, “What do I need to do to be on that team?” But do not worry! Being on Jesus’ team does not depend on how good you are at kickball, how good of a Christian you are, how nice you are, how much you have cleaned your room, or how much you pray, “Oooh! Jesus! Pick me!” In fact, it doesn’t depend on you at all. Instead, it all comes down to Jesus and his undeserved love for you.

Jesus has forgiven any sins you have committed. He died for you to wash them away, and he rose to life to prove that he has won the victory over death and the devil—and that you will too! When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, that means we are believers and on “team Jesus” because we are Christians. So when Jesus comes back on the Last Day, we can know with confidence that we will be the people that Jesus gathers to his side in victory forever. How wonderful to know that by grace and through faith we are Jesus’ chosen people!

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for choosing me to be your own child through the life and death of your Son Jesus. Help me look forward to the day when you will come back and we can celebrate your victory forever. 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 did Jesus defeat the devil?
• What do we call that day when Jesus will come back again?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How can we be sure that Jesus has chosen us to be his own?
• If you going to heaven depended on what you did in your life, explain why that would cause a lot of fear and worries.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Agree/Disagree: Because we don’t have to do anything to get to heaven, we don’t need to do anything as Christians living here in this world. Explain your answer.
• Discuss how God might use you and your family to help others be on the right “team” when Jesus comes back on judgment day.