Today’s Reading:
Read II Kings 12; II Chronicles 24:4-19; II Kings 13:1-13; 23
Set a timer for 60 seconds. In 60 seconds, work together with your family to list everything you can remember about the covenant God made with Abraham. If you need a refresher, you can read Genesis 15 before you start. Remember, this is a team effort. Don’t try to do it by yourself. Ask for help!
Today we read about King Joash, the next king of Judah. He was only 7 years old. Can you imagine being king at 7 years old? King Joash had wise counsel who helped him follow God. Jehoiada was a mentor who pointed Joash towards making decisions that were pleasing to God. Sadly, when Jehoiada died and King Joash lost that wise counsel, he made decisions that did not please God and the kingdom of Judah returned to worshiping Baal.
While Joash was king of Judah, King Jehoahaz and King Jehoash ruled in Israel. They, unfortunately, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They both turned to God in their times of need but it was not because they were seeking God, they were seeking help for challenges their kingdom was facing. When the help came, they turned away from God. Amazingly, God did not turn away from Israel! II Kings 13:23 says, “…but the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was not willing to destroy them.”
Application/Prayer:
Did you remember a lot about the covenant God made with Abraham? Even with a divided kingdom and choices that God’s chosen people had made, God did NOT forget his covenant. DId it make it easier to work as a team and ask for help? Joash’s story is a great example of how important it is for us to surround ourselves with people who can help point us to God. Ask God to put people in your life who help you seek after His will first!
June Memory Verse:
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:
- Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
- Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
- After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
- Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
- There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.
Other Resources:
June memory verse coloring sheet
June Fill-in the blank activity