Today’s Reading:
Read I Peter
What does your Christmas tree look like? Is it living or artificial? We decorate pretty early in our home, so we have an artificial tree. We don’t have to worry about doing anything to keep the needles on the branches alive throughout the advent season. However, some families choose living trees and in order to keep them alive, there’s a process of keeping water in the base of the tree so that the needles have life.
I Peter 1:24-25 says, “The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (Peter is referencing Isaiah 40:8 in this verse.) What is the “word of the Lord?” The Bible or God’s word is what Peter is referring to here. And the truth is, the word of the Lord doesn’t wither or fade like the Christmas tree might do. Not at all! Rather, the Word of God endures forever!
Because of God’s Word, we can rest in the knowledge that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood- we’ve been called out of darkness and into His glorious light! (I Peter 2:9) We can also rest in the promise that we can cast our cares on the Lord because He cares for us. (I Peter 5:7) God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105). God’s word is a gift to us, and we can be thankful for it.
Application/Prayer:
What’s your favorite Bible verse? God’s word is a gift that we can hide in our hearts and it will always be with us! It endures forever. Thank God for the truth that His word will never fail. Find a friend or a family member to share your favorite Bible verse with. When you do that, guess what? You’re sharing the gift of God’s word!
December Memory Verse:
I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
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:
December memory verse coloring sheet