Read an Excerpt
Kids' Book of Devotions Updated Edition
By Mark Littleton ZONDERVAN
Copyright © 2015 Mark Littleton
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-310-75220-2
CHAPTER 1
JANUARY
1
COME TO ME!
Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
* * *
What do you do on your birthday? Eat cake. Play games. Open presents.
Yes, open presents. That's the most fun.
Think of God's Word as God's present to us. When we read and understand a verse, it's like opening a gift. Each verse is a special message of God's love to us. A little present!
The above text is one to memorize. What does it mean? If you're tired of trying to be good and obey the rules, stop. Come to Jesus, and he'll show you how!
That's a great gift, don't you think?
* * *
Father, thank you for your rest. Help me to learn to rest in you and to live by your peace. Amen.
JANUARY
2
HOW TO OVERCOME SIN
I have hidden your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
* * *
God's Word tells you how to avoid sin.
What is sin? It's anything that God says is evil and wrong. Hatred. Impatience. Stealing. Lying. You know what most sins are. But some of them are hard to overcome.
The verse above is a good way to beat sin. Look it up. Memorize it.
How does it work? When you "hide" God's Word in your heart, you put it deep and safe there. It's like something precious a friend said to you that you want to remember. When you treasure God's Word like that, you'll find you can fight sin better. Why? Because that's the way God made life! His Word is powerful!
* * *
Lord, let me treasure your Word. Lead me to dig deep and to find the great truths that will help me live well for you. In Jesus, amen.
JANUARY
3
WHAT GOD'S WORD DOES
God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.
2 Timothy 3:16
* * *
Have you ever followed a trail in the woods? That can be scary if you don't know where it's going. But if you've traveled it many times, you know it's good. And you follow it with confidence.
The Bible says that God's Word is like a trail through the woods. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16 that it
teaches — shows us how to stay on God's trail
warns — points out when we get off his trail
corrects — helps us find the way back to the trail
and trains in right living — keeps us on the trail.
God's Word has that kind of power. Every time you read it, every time you hear it preached and read, listen for God's voice. Listen to what he's saying to you. And then go and obey it. Stick to God's trail and you'll get where he wants you to go.
* * *
Jesus, I want to hear your voice in your Word. Speak to me as I read and let me walk with you happily. Amen.
JANUARY
4
GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A KNIFE
The word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
* * *
God's Word cuts deep.
Did you know that? It's like a knife.
Have you ever cut an apple in half? What happens when you do? The innermost seeds are exposed. You see what's inside.
That's what God's Word does in our hearts. It goes deep inside and shows us what's there. The verse in Hebrews that is written out above shows us the power of Scripture.
Have you ever sat in church and suddenly heard the preacher say something that made you feel like everyone knew what you'd done wrong? That's the Holy Spirit speaking to you through God's Word. The Spirit shows us what's inside our hearts.
* * *
Holy Spirit, speak to me in church and in your Word. I want to be like Jesus in every way. Through Jesus, amen.
JANUARY
5
GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A SEED
A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. Birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky places, where there wasn't much soil.
Matthew 13:3 – 5
* * *
Do you have a garden? Maybe not, but I'm sure you know how to make things grow.
First you plant the seeds. Then you water them. Then you wait.
God's Word is like a seed. In fact, Jesus told a story about a farmer who planted seeds. Some didn't grow at all. Some died young. Some were choked by weeds. And a few grew to bear fruit.
That's how God's Word works. A verse is a seed. You plant it deep in your heart. There you listen to it and talk to yourself about it. And soon it bears fruit in your life. What the Word says to do, you do!
That's the whole point of reading God's Word — to change your life.
* * *
Lord, I want you to change my life. Work in me and make me like Jesus. Amen.
JANUARY
6
A LAMP IN THE DARKNESS
Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.
Psalm 119:105
* * *
Have you ever gone into a bathroom at night, turned on the light, and watched as some ugly bug disappeared down a drain? Yuck! Bugs don't like light. They scurry away. They want to stay in the dark. They don't want to be seen.
Did you know God's Word is like that light? In the passage above we can see how it works. When God switches his Word on in our lives, we sometimes see things we don't want to see. Lying. Stealing. Not studying in school. Making jokes about God's truth. They're the bugs of sin God wants to show to us. After we see them in the light, we can get rid of them once and for all.
* * *
Father, let me walk in the light of life. Show me any sins that I've done and help me stop doing them. In Jesus, amen.
JANUARY
7
GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE
I take delight in your orders. I won't fail to obey your word.
Psalm 119:16
* * *
Take a breath.
Ah! Did that feel good?
Now breathe on something — a candle flame, a leaf. What happens? Does it move around? Does it become "alive"?
Did you know that the Bible says God's Word has God's breath in it? In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul says, "God has breathed life into all Scripture." In other words, the Bible has the very breath of God inside it.
What does that mean? Just this: when you read the Bible, you're reading something that has life. Other words and sayings are just that: words and sayings. But God's Word is alive.
Next time you read some of it, see if it moves inside of you!
* * *
Lord Jesus, you say your Word is alive. Let it live in me. Amen.
JANUARY
8
GOD IS MY SHEPHERD
The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need.
Psalm 23:1
* * *
Why do we go to church?
Is it to hear a sermon? Is it to sing some songs? Is it to worship God?
All these things. But there's something else you may have missed. Remember the 23rd Psalm. The first verse is quoted above.
God is a shepherd. Jesus was called the Good Shepherd. And the leaders, pastors, elders, and deacons in a church are "under-shepherds." They're under Jesus. Jesus is the boss. They're his servants.
And who do they serve? Not just him, but us. They help us not be "in want." They show us the green pastures of truth and friendship. They lead us to the quiet waters of fellowship and good character. And they guide us in the right paths.
Church is God's way of helping you make it as a Christian.
* * *
Holy God, let me learn in church and Sunday school. Open my eyes so I may see your good truths. Amen.
JANUARY
9
STIR UP ONE ANOTHER
Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works.
Hebrews 10:24
* * *
A boy said in class, "When I grow up, I'm not gonna go to church."
The teacher asked him why. He said, "Because it's so boring."
The teacher then said, "You want to know how to make it not boring?"
His eyes lit up. "How?"
They talked about this verse in Hebrews about stirring up one another. The teacher said, "When you come to church, try to think of all the ways you can encourage your friends to show love and do good."
He was amazed. "That's what I'm supposed to do here?"
"Sure," his teacher answered. "And a lot of other things. But that's a big one."
Later on, he helped a younger girl read a verse. When he smiled, the teacher winked. There was a boy learning how to make church a great time every Sunday.
* * *
Eternal God, help me to be an encourager. Show me someone today I can encourage with your Word. Amen.
JANUARY
10
PARTS OF A BODY
So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts. Suppose the foot says, "I am not a hand. So I don't belong to the body." By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:14 – 5
* * *
Have you ever thought of what you might do if you were blind? Or deaf? Or were missing your legs?
It would be tough, but many people live with such problems and do fine.
There's one person, though, that God never wants to be handicapped. Do you know who that person is? Jesus' body, the church.
Yes, we're called Jesus' body in the Bible. He is the head, and we're the hands, feet, eyes, ears, liver, and heart. That's why Jesus needs everyone to take a role and play a part. You may be a spleen, or a big toe, or a whole hand. But when you don't participate, you're handicapping the church.
See what Paul told the Corinthians in the above verse? How do you get the most out of church? By doing something. By being a part. By giving of yourself.
* * *
Perfect Lord, show me my place in your church. Help me to find a ministry or do something that builds up others. In Jesus' name, amen.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Kids' Book of Devotions Updated Edition by Mark Littleton. Copyright © 2015 Mark Littleton. Excerpted by permission of ZONDERVAN.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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