Today’s Reading:
Read Romans 13-16
Use the white side of a role of wrapping paper to wrap a box. Ultimately, you want a gift box wrapped with blank paper for your family to decorate. Assign everyone in your family a different color. Use each family member’s assigned color and write something encouraging about them on the gift box. Fill the box up with as much encouragement as you can! Spreading encouragement is a great way to give someone a gift in this season! It helps to show the love you have for others.
One of Paul’s reasons for writing the letter to the church in Rome was that he loved them! He wanted to encourage them with the good news of the gospel. He also wanted to help them know how to live life as Christ followers. He helped them to understand how their lives could and should honor God. He reminded them of the commandments that Jesus said were the most important. (Romans 13:9) He told them that love was the fulfillment of the law.
Paul also took time to pray for the church in Rome. He asked God to encourage them. “Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus.” Paul wanted them to know that God would help them!
Paul also prayed that God would fill the believers with joy and peace so that they would overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome was full of encouraging words.
Application/Prayer:
Ask God to help you see the people around you who could use encouragement today. Make a card or write a letter to encourage them. Pray that God would help that friend feel encouraged today.
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