Ice Cream or Broccoli? – September 5, 2022

Read: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Ice Cream or Broccoli?

Family Devotion – September 5, 2022

Devotion based on Deuteronomy 30:19-20

See series: Devotions

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

Choose one:

  • Ice cream or broccoli?
  • Cookies or carrots?

The choice seems easy, right? Carrots and broccoli are easily the healthier, better choice. Ice cream and cookies may be good, but if you eat them all the time, you will not be very healthy.

We have choices that we have to make regularly when it comes to our faith—choices that can bring us closer to our Savior or weaken our faith because they keep us from our Savior.

  • Family devotion or watching another episode of your favorite show on Netflix or Disney+?
  • Worshiping on a Sunday morning or sleeping in and taking a “day off”?

God’s people in the Old Testament had similar choices to make. As they were they were about to enter a land God had promised to give them, their leader Moses told them they were going to have to make some choices. As believers, they were going to have to decide between doing things that would strengthen their faith and keep them close to their God or they were going to make decisions that would end up turning them away from their God.

The choice seems easy, right? But like ice cream and broccoli—easy, but hard.

Moses wanted them to make the right choice. God wanted them to make the right choice. God wants you to make the right choice. He wants you to continue to love him, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. God wants this for you because of what he has already done for you! He loved you, saved you, speaks to you in his Word—so that you can love him, listen to him, and hold fast to him.

The choice seems easy, right? But hard. There are so many things that can distract us and in the long run, turn us away from our Savior. We have to be careful with the choices we make!

The choice seems easy! Love your God! Listen to him daily! Hold on to him tightly! And thank him as he blesses those choices!

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the many blessings you bring into my life. Help me to love you, listen to you, and hold on to you tightly with the decisions I make. 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

  • Which one would you choose: Ice cream or broccoli? Cookies or carrots? Why?
  • How does God show that he loves you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • When you have a choice between something healthy and something unhealthy, what do you usually choose? Why?
  • What are some ways you can choose to love God, listen to him, and hold on to him tightly?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • Can you think of any decisions you have made that have kept you from your Savior rather than bringing you closer to him? Why did you choose what you did?
  • What choice do you think God’s people made?

 

Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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