Today’s Reading:
Read Ezekiel 34:1-20, 25-31
Do you know what a shepherd’s job is? What responsibilities does a shepherd have? A shepherd keeps his sheep safe. He leads and guides his sheep to pastures where there is food and water for them. A shepherd keeps his flock together. When one of the sheep is lost, the shepherd will search for that sheep. Sheep depend on the shepherd in order to live.
God told Ezekiel to tell the Israelites that He was going to be their shepherd. Ezekiel’s message reminded the Israelites that they had been led astray by bad shepherds. Ezekiel promised that God was going to send a good Shepherd who would provide for them and protect them. Ezekiel 34:25 also promised that God would establish a new covenant of peace with the Israelites.
Ezekiel’s message from God was a promise for renewed hope for the Israelites. Ezekiel was prophesying about a new kingdom where there would be no more war. He also promised that the Israelites would be provided for. Ezekiel was promising a Messiah, a Savior who would come and be the Good Shepherd. Ezekiel’s message to the Israelites was one of hope.
Application/Prayer:
Read John 10. Who is “The Good Shepherd?” What does the good shepherd do for his sheep? Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He gave his life for us. Thank Him today for His protection and provision.
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