Today’s Reading:
Read Hosea 11:1-9; 12:2-6, 9-11; 13:4-6,10-11; 14
Ask each member of your family to draw a picture of what they think God might look like. Spend some time discussing who God is and how you can represent that in a picture.
Hosea’s message to the Israelites showed that God was choosing to pursue Israel and renew His covenant, even though Israel had not been faithful with their part of the covenant. The character and nature of who God is was clearly demonstrated in Hosea.
God is FAITHFUL. Hosea reminded the Israelites of their history and of God’s provision. God provided for the Israelites as He brought them out of Egypt and helped them to become the mighty nation that they were. He promised to deliver them, and He kept that promise! God demonstrated time and time again that he was reliable, and He could be trusted.
God is MERCIFUL. The Israelites continually turned away from God. Hosea reminded them of the times that they followed their own way and not God’s way. Even so, in Hosea 11:8-9, God made it clear that He could not turn his back on Israel. His “compassion was stirred” and God offered hope even through the prophecy Hosea shared of defeat for the nation.
God is a FORGIVING FATHER. “But you must return to your God. Maintain love and justice and always put your hope in God.” (Hosea 12:6). God gave a way for the Israelites to return to Him. He loved them and did not want to be separated from them forever.
Application/Prayer:
Of the 3 character traits we learned about God today, which one means the most to you? (faithful, merciful, forgiving father). Why? Spend some time in prayer today thanking God for who He is. Thank Him for being a faithful, merciful and forgiving father.
July Memory Verse:
“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”
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:
July memory verse coloring sheet
July Fill-in the blank activity