Today’s Reading:
Read Exodus 40:1-16
Grab some legos or some building blocks. Choose one of your family members to be the “caller.” The “caller” will call out specific instructions for building something with the legos or the building blocks. The other family members need to follow those directions exactly the way they are given. Remember, the building will only be built correctly if you follow the exact directions the caller is giving you.
The instructions for building the tabernacle involved a lot. The structure of the building had to be built a certain way. There were specific instructions of how the rooms were supposed to be designed. God also gave specific directions on how the furniture in the tabernacle should be built and set up. God was making a way for the Israelites to be with him. He loved His people so much He wanted to be in relationship with them as much as possible.
Remember the Israelites were not staying in one place. They were traveling on their journey to the Promised Land. Whenever they moved to the next place, the tabernacle had to be completely taken down and rebuilt. And because it was a holy building, certain rules had to be followed each time they took it down and each time they rebuilt it.
If we read ahead in in the New Testament, we find that instead of God living in a tabernacle or a building we are the temple or tabernacle where God lives. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”
Application/Prayer:
When you think about the fact that God is ALWAYS with you, is there anything you think you might do or say differently? Remember, He is going with you to sports practices, friends’ houses, school, and more! Spend some time thanking God today that he is with you wherever you go since your body is God’s temple.
February Memory Verse:
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
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:
February memory verse coloring sheet