Today’s Reading:
Read Ezra 4-6
Sometimes we may think that just because God called us to do something, it is going to be easy! We may think that if God has asked us to complete a task or to be obedient to his call then obviously, things will come easily. Right? Wrong! That’s not always the case. Often when God calls us to do something, we may face opposition or things that get in our way or make us think that we should stop being obedient. The Israelites faced that same issue.
Remember, the Israelites were given the opportunity to return to Jerusalem. Not only were they going home, but they were also working on rebuilding the temple. Having the temple rebuilt was very important to the Israelites. Remember, the temple represented the house of the Lord. As followers of God, they wanted to be sure they were providing a house for Him, just like He had instructed their ancestors in the wilderness. Unfortunately, as the building started, the questions also started. People tried to stop the temple from being rebuilt. However, God provided, yet again! The King of Persia, Darius, defended the Israelites and made it possible for the temple rebuilding to continue. The people persevered and the construction of the temple was completed.
Application/Prayer:
Ask God to help you be brave when you face situations or challenges as you follow His plan. Remember, following God’s plan does not guarantee that everything will be perfect. There may be challenges along the way. Ask God to help you persevere the same way the Israelites did.
September Memory Verse:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him,and he will make your paths straight.”
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:
September memory verse coloring sheet