Today’s Reading:
Read Ezekiel 1-3; 4:1-4
Have you thought about what you want your job to be when you grow up? Share your thoughts with your family members Moms and Dads, share with your kids what you thought your “grown up” job was going to be when you were a kid. Is that what you’re doing today?
Ezekiel was a priest who lived in Jerusalem at the time that the Babylonians captured the city. God had a special plan for him. God chose Ezekiel to be a prophet who would share with the Israelites God’s plans for Jerusalem and for their nation. God spoke to Ezekeil through dreams and visions. He told Ezekiel exactly what to say to the Israelites and exactly how to say it. Ezekiel demonstrated God’s plan for the Israelites through plays he would act out on the streets. God was very clear with Ezekiel about what He wanted Ezekiel to say and do. He promised Ezekiel that He would make Him brave even though the Israelites would most likely refuse to listen.
God had a special calling for Ezekiel. It probably did not look like what Ezekiel thought it would look like. However, Ezekiel was obedient and followed God’s plan. God used Ezekiel to share His message with the Israelites.
Application/Prayer:
Being asked to do something that you know would be challenging or difficult is not easy! Sometimes telling others about God is not an easy job because the people we are sharing with might reject what we say. Ask God to help you be brave like he helped Ezekiel so that you can follow what He has called for you to do!
August Memory Verse:
“Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
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:
August memory verse coloring sheet
August Fill-in the blank activity