Today’s Reading:
Read II Kings 15:3-5; 14-15; II Chronicles 13:1-21; II Chronicles 14; II Chronicles 16:7-9
As a family, start today’s devotional time out by playing Hide and Go Seek. Who is the best hider in your family? How about the best “seeker?” In today’s reading, we are reminded that if we seek God, we will find Him! (II Chronicles 15:2)
The divided kingdoms were led very differently. Sometimes the kings would follow God’s commandments, but often they did not. Israel was led by King Jeroboam for 22 years and he did not observe God’s laws. In that time, Judah was led by King Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, who did not follow God. His reign was followed by his son, King Abijah, who also did not follow God. When King Abijah died, his son Asa became king. Different than the kings who had gone before him, King Asa “did what was right and good in the sight of the Lord his God.” (II Chronicles 14:2)
For most of the time that King Asa led Judah, there was peace in the land. He worked to bring the people back to a right relationship with God by removing idols and pagan altars. King Asa sought after the Lord. As a result, the Lord blessed King Asa and his reign. A prophet met King Asa and told him, “The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you…” The Lord honored that. In II Chronicles 15:15 we read, “All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They had sought him with all sincerity, and he was found by them.”
Application/Prayer:
On a blank sheet of paper, draw a heart. On the inside of the heart, write down what or who your family loves. King Asa was defined as a king who followed God wholeheartedly. What do you think it means to follow someone wholeheartedly? Spend some time today asking God to help you see what you might be loving in your life more than you love him.
June Memory Verse:
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
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:
June memory verse coloring sheet
June Fill-in the blank activity