Today’s Reading:
Read Matthew 24:35-44; 25:31-40
Think of a time you’ve said goodbye to a friend who was going on a trip or moving away. Goodbyes are hard, aren’t they? It is easier to say goodbye to someone if you know that you will see them again! It is hard to be away from friends, but knowing that we will be together with them again helps make those days without them easier, doesn’t it?
Jesus prepared the disciples for the fact that He was going to go away from them for a while. Jesus promised to return one day. The disciples did not understand this, and they asked Jesus a lot of questions. Jesus used parables to try to explain God’s plan in ways that the disciples would understand.
Jesus explained that no one would know when He was coming back, but that everyone must be ready for Him to return any day. Jesus also challenged His disciples to continue loving others and following His commands while He was away. He told them that when He returned, He would know who the people were who did the right thing and who the people were who had not obeyed. The disciples asked how He would know. Jesus explained that when they gave food to someone in need or cared for someone who was sick, they had not only shown love to those people, but they had also shown love to Jesus.
Matthew 25:40 says, “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Application/Prayer:
Ask God to give you an opportunity to show love to someone today. Remember that Jesus said when we take care of “the least of these”, it’s like we are doing it for Him. Thank God for the chance to show others His love.
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:
October memory verse coloring sheet
October Fill-in the blank activity