Today’s Reading:
Read James 1-5
What’s the difference between being smart and being wise? Someone who is smart most likely knows a lot! They probably have a lot of answers when questions are asked. A person who is wise knows what to do with what they know. They don’t just know the answers, they understand why the answers are what they are. The Jewish scholars had a lot of knowledge about the law. They were smart! However, many of them did not know how to apply those laws or what those laws meant. They also didn’t know what to do now that Jesus had come and fulfilled the law by his death and resurrection.
The book of James was written by James, the half-brother of Jesus. Many people compare the book of James to the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. Remember the book of Proverbs was full of wisdom and truths for us to live by. James is full of similar truths! James takes the laws that the people would have known because of tradition, and he helps them understand how to look at the law differently now that Jesus had come to fulfill the law. He explained suffering, trials, having a living faith, obedience to the Word, humility and prayer.
The wisdom in the book of James was written for Jewish people who had become Christ followers. Most of them lived outside of Jerusalem and they needed guidance about how to live a life that Jesus would want them to live. As Christ followers today, we need that same guidance. The wisdom in the book of James is for us, too!
Application/Prayer:
As you read through the book of James today, highlight some of the verses that you think could apply to your family today! Thank God that the truths of the Bible written so long ago are still helpful to us today. Read Isaiah 40:8 and thank God that His word lasts forever!
November Memory Verse:
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”
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:
November memory verse coloring sheet
November Fill-in the blank activity