This Book Belongs To:
WRITERS : Chia Poh Fang (CPF), Esther Eio (EE), Jasmine Goh (JG), Selena Heng (SH), Leslie Koh (LK), Emily Lim-Leh (EL), Jayni Manners (JM), Heather Owens (HLO), Kimberly Quek (KQ), Ruth Wan-Lau (RW), Charmaine Weng (CW), Be tsy Whittaker (BW), Alina Teo (AT)
EDITORIAL : Asia Pacific Content Development Team
DESIGNERS : Grace Goh, Joshua Tan
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Images used under licence from shutterstock.com
© 2020 Our Daily Bread Ministries®. All rights reserved.
These devotions are written specially for children and families. They can be read out loud during family devotional time. Children can also use these devotions for their personal time with the Lord. Through the use of stories and examples, these devotions aim to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable to children and families, and to challenge them to apply the Word of God to their daily lives.
Here are some tips on how to carry out family devotional time using these devotions:
• Set aside a specific time every day as family devotional time.
• Read the Bible passage out loud.
• Read the devotion out loud.
• Ask the children to summarize the devotion.
• Read the reflection questions out loud. Have a discussion about them.
• Summarize the key learning points for everyone.
• Pray, asking God to help everyone apply His Word to their lives.
As you use this book, we pray that you will enjoy meaningful moments with God and with one another!
The Our Daily Bread team
Use Your Time Wisely
Verse
of the Day
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. —Psalm 90:12
READ Psalm 90:12–17
“How was your violin lesson, Keith?” Mom asked.
“Cool! I was amazed at how much my teacher Mrs Chew did with me,” Keith replied. “First, I played all the scales for her, then, we went through my three exam pieces. After that, we did singing, clapping, and sight-reading. And, that’s not all! Mrs Chew even found the time to have me write down three goals to improve my violin playing.”
“Wow! You did all that during your one-hour lesson? That’s great! By the way, what are you planning to do tomorrow now that the school holidays have begun?” Mom asked.
“Oh . . . I was thinking of lying in bed and playing computer games for eight hours . . .” Keith replied.
Mom raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat. “You know, Keith, relaxing sounds great, but let’s think about what Moses wrote in Psalm 90:12: ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may
gain a heart of wisdom.’ Just like your violin lesson has a one-hour time limit, our lives also have a limit—the time we have won’t last forever. When we realize this, we’ll want to use our time wisely, as part of pleasing God.”
Mom continued: “Mrs Chew made excellent use of one hour to help you practice and set goals. Isn’t it amazing how much can be done with the limited time we have, when we put our minds to it? So, let’s not waste our time! Now, it’s your turn: how can you use your holiday time wisely, in a way that pleases God? And, what spiritual goals can you set for yourself?” —RW
Lord,help me to realize the time I have won’t last forever.I want to use mytime wisely,topleaseYou.I don’t want to waste mytime.
Reflection
How can you spend your time wisely during the holidays? Could you do chores around the house or help your siblings? What spiritual goals could you set for yourself, e.g., reading the Bible, memorizing verses, serving in church, or praying for people? Let’s use our holiday time in a way that pleases God.
More Free? ( Part One )
Verse of the Day
You are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness. —Romans 6:16
READ Romans 6:16–18
Kai Xuan stomped into Sunday School and sat at the back, pouting.
“W hat’s the matter?” Auntie Michelle asked.
Kai Xuan told her Sunday School teacher what had happened: that morning, she had been playing her favorite mobile game but her parents made her stop because it was time to go to church. Kai Xuan was very upset.
“W hy can’t I be free to do whatever I want?” Kai Xuan blurted out. “As a Christian, I have to do this or not do that. Wouldn’t I be freer if I didn’t follow Christ?”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s true, Kai Xuan,” Auntie Michelle looked concerned.
“Some people may think following Christ is about following rules, and if they weren’t Christian, they wouldn’t have to follow rules, so they’d be free. But, the freedom to do whatever you want
is not true freedom at all. Romans 6:16 tells us that we are slaves to the one we obey; if we do not obey God, we are actually slaves to sin.”
“Slaves? To sin?” Kai Xuan thought about this.
Lord,I want to be in Your team,not sin’s team.I do not want to be enslaved to sin.
“Yes!” Auntie Michelle replied. “You play netball in school, right? In a netball game, two teams compete against each other. In a similar way, according to Romans 6:16–18, in the ‘game of life’, there are two teams: God’s team or sin’s team. If you aren’t part of God’s team, that doesn’t make you free. It means you’re part of sin’s team: you’re enslaved to sin. Today’s Sunday School lesson is about that. Why don’t you sit in front and we can talk more after the lesson ends?”
Kai Xuan nodded and walked to the front with Auntie Michelle. —RW
Reflection
When you play games on the phone, tablet or computer, do you sometimes get upset when your parents tell you to stop? What have you thought, said or done as a reaction to them? What will you do differently?
More Free? ( Part two )
Verse of the Day
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
—John 8:36
READ
John 8:34–36
Kai Xuan found Auntie Michelle’s Sunday School lesson very engaging that day.
The children took turns to bind Auntie Michelle’s wrists together with a ball of thread. At first, with just a few strings around her wrists, she broke free of the binding easily. But, as more string was wound around her wrists, it was impossible for her to break free. Auntie Michelle explained the lesson: “Jesus said in John 8:34 that ‘Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.’ Sin is our disobedience to God. The more we disobey, the harder it is to break free; just like when more strings are tied around my wrists, it was harder for me to break free. Thankfully, Jesus reassures us that ‘if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’ (John 8:36). Jesus, the Son of God, died for us on the cross to set us free from the bondage of sin. Because of Him, we can be truly free. Does anybody know what it means to be truly free?”
While the children thought about this question, Kai Xuan raised her hand. “To be truly free doesn’t mean you are free to do whatever you want. It means you’re free from sin!”
Auntie Michelle smiled. “Very good, Kai Xuan! When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are freed from sin—God forgives our sin and He gives us the power to resist sin through the Holy Spirit.”
Lord,helpmetobeaware that sin is what binds me.It is You whoJesussetsmefreethrough YourSon.Ipraise You for it!
Af ter the lesson, Kai Xuan hugged Auntie Michelle. “Thanks for today’s lesson. I’m going to say sorry to my parents for being rude to them this morning. I don’t want to be a slave to sin. I want to be free in Jesus!” —RW
Reflection
True freedom is not doing whatever you want. It is freedom from sin. Only Jesus the Son of God is able to set us truly free. Say a prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. God will forgive your sin and give you the power to resist sin with the Holy Spirit’s help.
The Best Food
Verse of the Day
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods.
—Psalm 63:5
READ
Psalm 63:1–5
Andrew was feeding his sister Audrey who was seated in her high chair.
“Open your mouth, Audrey. Yum, yum!” Andrew said, feeding her one spoonful of porridge. Then, he checked his smartphone, and Audrey began to pick her nose. Her finger dug out a dried lump of mucus, and she ate it.
“Yum, yum!” Audrey giggled.
Andrew looked up. “Eeow! Boogers shouldn’t be eaten! Mom!” he hollered for help.
“W hat happened?” Mom came running. After Andrew told her what Audrey had done, Mom talked to Audrey firmly, then helped her blow her nose.
“W hat are you looking at on your phone?” Mom asked Andrew. “Oh, nothing much,” Andrew’s eyes were glued to his social media feed. “Just a bunch of random videos, pictures, and memes.”
Mom shook her head. “Andrew, you agree with me that Audrey shouldn’t feed herself boogers, right? Well, just think about what we are feeding our hearts and minds when we spend too much time on social media. Just as boogers have little nutritional value, there may be little value in consuming too many random videos, pictures, and memes.”
me.Lord,Youfullysatisfy I want to fill withmyheartandmind You.
Mom continued: “Remember what we studied during our family Bible Study group? Psalm 63:5 says: ‘I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods.’ The psalmist recognized that only God fully satisfies us. His love is better than life (v.3) and when we fill our hearts and minds with God’s power, glory, and praise (vv. 2,4), it’s like eating the yummiest, best of the best food.” “Yum, yum!” Audrey squealed with delight. Andrew laughed. “Okay, I get your point, Mom. I’ll put my phone away. No boogers for Audrey, and no boogers for me!” —RW
Reflection
Instead of spending time on your phone or other media channels, like the computer or TV, start the daily habit of praising God with song, prayer, writing, and drawing.
Hope in Jesus
Verse of the Day
We boast in the hope of the glory of God. —Romans 5:2
READ
Romans 5:1–5
On a hot July afternoon, Joni went swimming with her friends. She dived head first into the water, without realizing that it was too shallow to do so.
Severely injured, Joni was sent to the hospital where they discovered that she had broken her spinal cord and was paralyzed from the shoulders down.
Only 17 years old at that time, Joni Eareckson Tada had been keen on pursuing sports in college. Yet, she could no longer move her hands and legs. All hopes of living out her passion were dashed. She became angry and depressed.
But with the help of her friends, she found hope in Jesus and discovered a new purpose in life.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he tells them that as followers of Jesus, they can “boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). We too have the same hope, if we put our faith in Jesus.
Because Jesus took the punishment for our sins, we have a restored relationship with God. We can now enjoy His empowering presence to help us in our trials, and joyfully look forward to sharing in God’s glory, where we will have a new and perfect body that will never decay.
Lord,thankYou for andbeingmypresenthelp futurehope.Help me to look to Jesus whenIamfeelingdown.
Today, with Jesus, Joni looks at her situation differently. She is still unable to move her hands and legs but instead of dwelling in despair, she is determined to live her life as a follower of Jesus Christ joyfully.
She has learnt to paint, and she has starred in a movie, written many books, and even hosted her own radio show. Through all these, she shares her story of how Jesus is her present help and future hope. —JG
Reflection
What can you learn from Joni’s story? Think of ways to focus on Jesus and remember He has given you eternal life and is your eternal friend. How does this help you when you are angry and depressed, or when your hopes are dashed?
The Godwit ’s Flight
Verse of the Day
How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. —Psalm 104:24
READ Psalm 104:24
“My Papa is going to New York for work. He says he will fly on the world’s longest non-stop flight,” Zach told his friend Caleb.
“How long is the flight?” Caleb asked.
“Nineteen hours,” Zach said.
Caleb smiled. “That isn’t the world’s longest non-stop flight.”
Zach frowned. “There’s a longer one?”
Caleb nodded. “I’m talking about the bar-tailed godwit. Did you know this small bird can fly non-stop for eight to nine days from Alaska to New Zealand to escape the winter?”
“No way!” Zach cried.
“T he bar-tailed godwit eats lots of food to build up stores of fat for energy,” Caleb said. “It doesn’t eat or sleep during flight. As it flies, it uses up its energy store till its internal organs shrink.”
“Really?” Zach gasped. His tummy tightened at the mention of food.
“The godwit makes this epic roundtrip of 29,000 kilometers every year,” Caleb continued.
“Seriously?” Zach cried, arms flapping and ready to take off from the sofa.
“Yes!” Caleb exclaimed.
Lord,inYour wisdom, You have created a whole world of meamazingcreatures.Help to see and value Your creation!
“God, in His wisdom, created this amazing bird and gave it an inner compass to find its way across the world. No human invention can ever be better than God’s creation. It’s like the psalmist says in Psalm 104:24: ‘How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.’”
“Wow!” Zach cried. “My inner compass tells me that Mom bought the world’s best chocolate cake for us and it’s over there.”
“First one to fly from the sofa to the fridge gets extra cake!” Caleb cried as he took off. —EL
Reflection
Read Psalm 19:1–3. Reflect upon one or two amazing wonders of God’s creation. Remember that the God who created Heaven and Earth also created you. Thank Him for this.
Encourage One Another
Verse of the Day
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
—1 Thessalonians 5:11
READ
1 Thessalonians 5:9–15
“Ihave a new game for us to play,” announced Dad.
“G reat, what is it?” asked Max excitedly.
“Each one of us is going to say something nice about one person in the family. I will start by saying something nice about Mom, then you children will also say one thing nice about Mom. Then I will say something nice about Conor, and each of you will say something nice about Conor,” explained Dad.
“I don’t think I like this game,” said Conor. “I can’t think of anything nice to say about my brothers.”
“O f course you can,” replied Dad. “It doesn’t have to be long. For example, I like Mom because she makes nice cakes.”
“I c an’t think of anything nice to say either,” piped in Adam, the youngest of the three brothers. “My brothers don’t let me play with them.”
“Children, it’s not good to have this attitude,” said Dad. “I’m sure
you can think of one thing nice to say about each other. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we are told to encourage one another and build each other up. You should praise your siblings when they do something well.”
Lord,helpmeto encouragemysiblings andbuildthemup.
“I will start,” said Adam. “I like Max because he gave me some of his blocks.”
“Well done, Adam. That’s very gracious of you. Conor, your turn now,” said Dad. —JM
Reflection
If Jesus loved us enough to die for us, we are to love others as He does. Let’s start by loving our family, including our siblings.
We Were Zombies
Verse of the Day
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.
—Ephesians 2:4–5
READ
Ephesians 2:1–10
“Dad, did you know that zombies are found in the Bible?”
Jasmine said.
“W here did you hear that from?” Dad asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Pastor Matthew gave us a short message at Sunday School this morning. He said zombies are found in Ephesians 2:1–2!”
Dad grabbed his Bible and looked up the verses.
“See,” Jasmine said, pointing at God’s Word, “it says ‘you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live.’ ”
Dad smiled. “Before we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were dead in sin, yet we were alive. Hmm . . . that is a bit like . . .”
“ . . . zombies!” Jasmine exclaimed. “Zombies are the walking dead, and that’s what we were! We were walking around, but we were dead.”
Dad laughed. “I guess I see Pastor Matthew’s tongue-in-cheek
point! When we are disobedient to God, our relationship with Him is broken and we can’t fix it. We may be enjoying ourselves at school or with friends and family, but actually, we’re dead—that means: we’re finished because we can’t get rid of our sin; we’re helpless and hopeless.”
Lord,thankYou forus.Yourgreatlovefor I was dead in sin, but am now alive with Christ because Jesus is myLordandSavior.
“Pastor Matthew said that dead people can’t save themselves. But God made us alive again,” Jasmine recalled.
Dad nodded. “Verses 4 and 5 say: ‘because of his great love for us, God . . . made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.’ What a merciful God we have! With Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer dead in sin, but alive with Him!”
“Hooray!” exclaimed Jasmine. “We aren’t zombies anymore!” She stuck out her arms and walked around the room like a zombie. Dad laughed, then joined in. —RW
Reflection
In your own words, describe being dead in sin. Then, describe being alive in Christ. Having Jesus as our Lord and Savior makes all the difference. Praise Him for it!
Wi-Fi or Wisdom?
Verse of the Day
For [wisdom] is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
—Proverbs 3:14
READ
Proverbs 3:13–19
“No Wi-Fi?!” Zac exclaimed as his family entered the retreat center. “I need to update my social media page and find out what’s happening with . . .”
Dad interrupted, “Our goal this weekend is to spend time away from distractions, including our gadgets and the Internet. We are in search of something far greater than Wi-Fi!”
“W hat’s that?” Zac asked.
“W isdom!” Dad answered. “Wi-Fi connects us to information and people via the Internet and social media, but without God’s wisdom, such connections could lead us down wrong paths! Proverbs 3:14 reminds us that wisdom is more profitable than silver, and yields better returns than gold. It is the most valuable treasure we could ever possess.”
Mom said: “Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding. This means: When we know God—His character and power— and take His will and ways seriously by obeying Him, we’ll be able to live wisely.”
YourLord,grantme wisdom in the decisions that I make.
Gl ancing at Zac’s phone, Mom added: “For example, we’ll be wise about what to click on, swipe, post and type on our phones. It’s one thing to have Wi-Fi connection to information and people; it’s another thing to wisely choose what information to accept or reject, and to communicate wisely with the people you are connected with.”
“T hat’s right,” Dad nodded. “You’ll need wisdom for that!”
“I get it! Wi-Fi connects us to the Internet, but wisdom connects us to God!” Zac smiled and put away his mobile phone. “OK, Mom and Dad. Shall we begin our quest for wisdom?” —CW
Reflection
How do you usually make decisions? Think of several examples from your life where fearing the Lord— meaning we know God, His character and power, and take His will and ways seriously by obeying Him—helps you make wise decisions.
Gracious Words
Verse of the Day
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. —Proverbs 16:24
READ
Proverbs 16:20–24
When he was a young boy, Benjamin West attempted to draw a picture of his sister, Sally, but it didn’t really look like her. In fact, it looked a bit messy.
When his mother saw his creation, she kissed him on the head and remarked, “Why, it’s Sally!”
Later on, when Benjamin became a famous American painter, he told others that it was that kiss from his mother that made him decide to become an artist. He persevered and succeeded in art, because his mother encouraged him.
Encouragement is a powerful thing. There are many reminders in the Bible of how we are to encourage one another. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” and Proverbs 12:25 tells us, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” This means that your kind words can be most pleasant and uplifting to others.
When you are with your friends or on social media, remember to use kind words only. Build people up with your words; don’t tear them down. We bring glory to God by being encouraging and kind to others. And, it pleases Him too. So, whom can you support, comfort, and affirm today?
Reflection Prayer
alwaysLord,helpmetobekindandencouragingtomy mefamilyandfriends.Help to choose words that willbuildthemup.
Excerpted and adapted from Our Daily Bread 10 August 2019 article, by Peter Chin.
Have you always used encouraging words? Or, have you sometimes been careless and unkind? Ask God to help you to be encouraging to others, and ask for His forgiveness when you haven’t been kind.
Bless You!
Verse of the Day
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.
—Ephesians 4:29
READ Ephesians 4:29–32
Johan was watching TV when it suddenly went blank. “What the f---!”
“Hey! Do you know that that is a really rude word?” Joel asked.
“No,” Johan mumbled. “Don’t all big boys use such words?”
“I don’t,” Joel said.
“W hat’s the big deal?” Johan asked. “It’s just a word.”
“T hat’s what I thought until my Sunday School teacher pointed me to Ephesians 4:29,” Joel said, opening up the Bible app on his phone. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
“W hat does that mean?” Johan asked.
“It means we should choose words that help and are good for those who are listening ,” Joel said. “What happens if our little sister
Jolene heard you using rude words?”
“Not good?” Johan said. “But if I don’t talk like my friends, they will laugh at me.”
Joel replied: “True friends are those who accept you for who you are, not what they want you to be. I lost some friends when I chose to use decent language. But I found better friends who accepted me.”
guardLord,helpmeto mymouthwordsandchoosemywisely.Helpmetospeakwordsthat othersencourageandbuild up.
Just then, Jolene burst into the TV room. “What the f---!” she shouted.
Johan looked horrified.
“Jolene, do you know that that word is very rude?” Johan said. “We won’t use that anymore, okay? When we are angry, we can say something that’s the opposite, like . . . ‘Bless you!’”
“Best you!” Jolene cried.
“T hat’s fine too,” Johan said with a smile. “And yes, I’ll try to be the ‘Best Me.’” —EL
Reflection
Have you struggled with the use of inappropriate language just to fit in or because it seems like the cool thing to do? Think of how you can replace such words with more wholesome words.
Wholehearted Devotion
Verse of the Day
I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.
—Joshua 14:8
READ Joshua 14:7–15
Sanjay kicked a pebble on the pavement as he trudged home from church. His friends in Sunday School had not been keen to invite others to the upcoming outreach event organized by the church. They had whined: “No point asking. My friends won’t come.”
Sanjay thought: Don’t they believe that God can work through them?
“Ouch!” Sanjay squealed.
“A penny for your thoughts, Sanjay?” his Sunday School teacher Alex said with a wink. Sanjay had walked straight into Alex!
Sanjay replied shyly, “Oops. Sorry. I was thinking about inviting friends to the church’s outreach event. I was excited about it, but everyone else didn’t seem keen, so I’m feeling discouraged.”
“Do you remember Caleb?” Alex asked. “He was one of the twelve spies who went to look at the Promised Land. Though ten spies saw only the difficulties and challenges, Caleb and Joshua
believed that God would give them the land.”
Alex took out his Bible and showed Sanjay Joshua 14:7-8: “I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.”
toLord,helpme followYou whenwholeheartedlyeven myfriendsgotheotherway.
Alex continued, “Caleb wasn’t swayed by the crowd. He was fully devoted to God and focused on Him. Even at the ripe old age of eighty-five, Caleb continued to have a great attitude about serving God and fighting for him. Let’s follow his good example, shall we? Let’s not be discouraged by those around us, and let’s follow God wholeheartedly.”
Sanjay replied with a nod and a bright smile. —CPF
Reflection
God promises that He will be with us as we obey His command to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19–20). Whom can you reach out to for God today?
God With Us
Verse of the Day
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. —Daniel 3:17
READ
Daniel 3:13–25
“Why, Mom?” Anna whispered, her eyes welling up with tears as she recounted what her classmate Mei had told her. “Why would Mei’s parents say such things?”
Mei’s parents had told Mei that she was not allowed to become a Christian. They had taken Mei’s Bible away and threatened to throw her out of the house.
Mom sighed. “Her parents must have their reasons. I’m afraid that for many, the cost of following Christ is high and the path a difficult one.”
Anna remained silent, unsure of what to think or do.
“Honey, do you remember the story of Daniel and his three friends in the Bible, how they were punished for their beliefs while they were exiled in Babylon?” Mom asked.
“Yes, the king of Babylon threw Daniel into the lions’ den for praying to God (Daniel 6), and threw Daniel’s friends into a fiery
furnace for refusing to bow down to an idol made of gold (Daniel 3). God saved them though,” Anna said.
Lord,thankYou that You are with me.You will neither leave nor forsake me,even whenIfaceanykindof sufferingformyfaith.
“Yes, He did,” Mom nodded. “God can intervene—though He doesn’t promise miracles every time. His promise is that He is always with us. The Bible tells us that Jesus is called Immanuel, a Hebrew word that means ‘God with us.’ Jesus, who is God, has said that He will never leave or forsake us. Just as God was with Daniel in the lions’ den, and with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire, He is with us when we face any kind of suffering for our faith. Anna, shall we pray for Mei and her parents?”
Mother and daughter bowed their heads in prayer. —KQ
Reflection
Around the world, many Christians are shunned by friends, disowned by family, imprisoned, or even killed because of their beliefs. Take some time to pray for those who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus.
Anxiety
Verse of the Day
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —Philippians 4:6
READ
Philippians 4:1–9
Are you worried about not getting top marks on school tests? About the way you look? About not being good at sports?
Or, are you worried that your classmates are more popular than you? That you don’t have the latest toys or screen devices, like your friends do?
As you can see, there are many things we may be worried about.
But in the Bible, God tells us not to worry, because worrying is like telling God you don’t trust He is in control.
The Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). This means that whenever you feel anxious, tell God about it. God is in control of all things; He rules over all His creation. Even when bad things happen, God is in control. Being anxious is more than just feeling sad or unhappy about
something. It actually reveals that our hearts are not fully trusting in God. God wants you to have His peace and love in your heart, so that you can be a light for Christ in the darkness. So, the next time you start to worry about something, remember what God wants you to do. Give all your anxious thoughts to Him, and then trust that He will help you in every situation. —JM
ILord,I’msorrywhen thingsgetanxiousaboutanddon’tbringHelpmyconcernstoYou. metotrustYou, andgivemeYourpeace.
Reflection
The Bible tells us to cast all our anxiety on Jesus because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Say a prayer to Jesus and surrender your worries to Him.
Bread of Life
Verse of the Day
I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. —John 6:35
READ
John 6:32–40
“Did you share your snacks with your friends today?” Mom asked Alethea.
Alethea had brought to school some crispy seaweed snacks which the family bought during their holiday in Thailand.
“Yeah. They liked it so much they kept asking for more. Even students from other classes were crowding around me during recess, begging for a piece.”
Mom looked amused, “The snacks were that popular, huh?”
“Yup. I felt like Jesus feeding the 5000!” Alethea exclaimed.
Mom laughed. “Did you know that after Jesus fed them, the crowd continued following Him wherever He went?”
“Well, my friends asked if I could bring more snacks tomorrow. I guess the crowd following Jesus must have been hoping that Jesus would feed them again,” said Alethea.
“You’re right. They didn’t realize that there was something more
important than food that Jesus wanted to give them,” Mom said. “So, Jesus told them in John 6:35: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ Jesus was saying that He is able to give them eternal life. Whoever believes in Him as their Lord and Savior will be able to live forever with Him, and so, they will always be fully satisfied.”
Lord,thankYou for Jesus who is able life.togivemeeternal satisfiedIwanttobefullyinHim.Helpme andtotrustinHimasmyLord Savior.
Alethea thought for a little while, and asked, “Mom, do we have more of the crispy seaweed snacks?”
“Yes, we do,” Mom replied, “Are you going to ‘feed the 5000’ again tomorrow at school?”
Alethea giggled. “I can’t give them life, but I can give them food! And I will also tell them about Jesus being the bread of life.” —JG
Reflection
What does it feel like to be fully satisfied? Describe such a feeling. With Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can be fully satisfied. Do you want to accept this bread of life? Ask an older Christian how to do this.
Sin Likes to Hide
Verse of the Day
Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” —Isaiah 29:15
READ Isaiah 29:15–16
Mom was cleaning the house when she found a thin, shiny bracelet under a sofa cushion in the living room.
“Mom, I’m home!” shouted Julie as she burst in from school. Suddenly, Julie saw Mom holding the bracelet and froze. “Where did this come from?” Julie asked nervously.
“Oh, I found it under a cushion. It looks like your friend, April’s. Did she leave it behind when she came to play?” Mom said.
“Uh . . .” Julie stammered. She swallowed hard, then sank down on the sofa. “Mom, I need to tell you something.”
In a r ush of tears and words, Julie confessed that she had taken the bracelet from April’s desk at school a few days before. She knew it was wrong, so she hid it under the sofa cushion.
“I w anted it so badly. But after I took it, I felt awful! Then, when April started looking for it, I knew she would be so mad at me. How come I felt so bad, Mom?”
“Isaiah 29:15 tells us why.” Mom opened the Bible app on her phone and read out loud: “ Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, ‘Who sees us? Who will know?’” You thought no one knew what you did. But God sees everything. And it seems like the Holy Spirit was working through your conscience and making you feel upset. Do you feel better now that the secret is out?”
Lord,You doneeverythingseethatis in secret.I’m forgetsorryforthetimesIthisanddisobeyYou.Please remind me metodaythatYouarewith always,helpingmetosay“no”tosin.
“Yes. I know I need to say sorry to God and April. Can I bring the bracelet to her now?” asked Julie.
“Sure. Let’s go together,” Mom replied. —BW
Reflection
Why do we choose to sin? Does hiding the sin make it better or worse? Why? Memorize the verse for today so God can use it to remind you that He sees when you are tempted to sin and can help you through it.
Special to God
Verse of the Day
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. —Ephesians 1:5 NLT
READ
Acts 9:1–19
“Dad, my conversion was so ordinary. Is something missing?” Lionel was reading the story of Paul’s dramatic conversion in Acts 9:1–19. It seemed that his conversion, and that of his family, was boring by comparison. After a friend had shared the good news about Jesus with them, they had decided to follow Christ.
“O f course not,” Dad replied immediately. “Remember what it was like before we became Christians?”
Lionel nodded. The family used to quarrel a lot and worry over their problems. While they still faced many struggles, they were now able to turn to God for help and guidance. Mom and Dad had become more patient and forgiving, and they were now praising Lionel for being more helpful at home and diligent in his studies.
“Yeah,” he said. “I guess our lives have changed a lot, just like Paul’s did.”
Dad agreed. “I think the changes in our own family are dramatic too, in their own way.”
Lionel thought a bit more. “But do you think God is as interested in us as He was in Paul?”
Lord,thankYou for andcomingintomylife changingme. And thankYou for this assurance that I am specialtoYou.
“Well, God certainly had special plans for Paul,” Dad replied. “But that doesn’t make us less special. In fact, Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:4–5 that ‘Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us . . . God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.’ I believe God was just as overjoyed when you decided to follow Him.”
Lionel smiled, “Thanks, Dad. It’s assuring to know that I am special to God too!” —LK
Reflection
Can you remember how you became a follower of Jesus? How has your life been changed by Him since then?
A Unique Country
Verse of the Day
There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
—Revelation 7:9
READ
Revelation 7:9–10
“Dad, where’s Singapore on the world map?” Lauren asked, clicking on Google Maps on the computer.
Dad typed in “Singapore” and Google Maps “flew” across the world and “landed” on Singapore.
“Wow! Singapore’s just a tiny dot!” Lauren exclaimed as she used the computer mouse to zoom out. “I wonder where China is.” The family was travelling to China for a holiday soon. Lauren zoomed out further until she spotted China.
“Dad! China is shaped like . . . a rooster!” Lauren laughed.
Dad laughed too. “You’re right!”
“I wonder what Malaysia and Indonesia look like,” Lauren said. These were the countries the family had visited on vacation. Dad helped Lauren find them on the map.
“You know, Lauren, every country has a unique shape because every country has different borders. But I know of a country that
has no borders.”
“W hich country is that?” Lauren asked.
“It’s God’s ‘country’. We’re learning about this in church as our sermon series is on Revelation.
Lord,thankYou that Savior.JesusismyLordand I look forwardwhattothedayIcansee heaven looks like.
Pastor Jason told us last Sunday that God gave John the Apostle a vision of what heaven would look like. In Revelation 7:9, John recorded that he saw a large crowd of people from every nation.”
“W ill there be people from Singapore, China, Malaysia and Indonesia in heaven?” Lauren interrupted.
“Yes, and from every tribe, people, and language too!” Dad replied. “God’s ‘country’ or kingdom won’t have borders in the sense that it will welcome everyone who calls Jesus Lord and Savior.”
“That’s fantastic, Dad!” Lauren said. “I wonder what the ‘country’ of heaven will look like!”
“Well,” Dad said. “No one knows, but I hope to find out some day. Don’t you?” —RW
Reflection
Do you know of anyone from a foreign country?
Imagine a crowd of people from every nation, tribe, people and language, then praise God for His amazing ‘country’ of heaven!
The Lord Has Come!
Verse of the Day [Jesus]
became
human
and made his home
—John 1:14 NLT
among us.
READ
John 1:1–5, 9–14
T“Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.”
here is a good reason we sing this well-known carol every Christmas season. We celebrate the greatest gift ever given—Jesus!
Jesus is God’s Son. Even though He is divine, He obeyed His Father’s will and became human. He became a tiny baby. Grew big and strong. Traveled and taught and did amazing miracles. Soon, people began to see that Jesus was not just a man. He was God’s Son sent to save us from our sin, which is disobedience to God. He came to help us know God and to be our forever King.
There are lots of things that make us feel happy at Christmas— sparkling lights, Christmas trees, yummy foods, and visits with our grandparents, aunties and uncles. Of course, we can’t forget
presents! We all love presents. Every Christmas, though, we remember that the best gift of all is not under the Christmas tree. It is not wrapped in paper or tied up with a ribbon. The best present of all is Jesus, God’s own Son!
Lord,thankYou forsendingJesustobe near to us.We arefilledwithjoy because Jesus is the best Christmasgiftofall.
The world is filled with joy because Jesus came to die for us on the cross in order to take away our punishment for sin, to save us and to be our King. When you sing “Joy to the World”, remember that Jesus “became human and made his home among us” (John 1:14 NLT). He came to be near us and to help us. He is the reason the world is filled with joy. —HLO
Reflection
The next line of “Joy to the World” is “Let every heart prepare him room”. Are you “making room” for Jesus in your heart? Are you learning to love Him more and to know Him a little better each day?
A Real Person
Verse of the Day
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
—1 Timothy 1:15
READ
Luke 2:15–20
“Miss Jacob!” Erin bounced over to her Sunday School teacher excitedly. “Last night, I saw Jesus!”
Miss Jacob’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes! Daddy brought us to see a performance at a shopping center. I saw baby Jesus in a manger!” Erin exclaimed.
“Well,” interrupted Vanessa. “I’ve got baby Jesus in my house!”
Miss Jacob rubbed her ears. “You do?”
“Uh-huh. My mom took out the wooden figures of the manger scene for us. My brother and I play with baby Jesus!”
Miss Jacob smiled. “You know, children, the baby in the performance at the shopping center was not the actual Jesus. He was pretending to be Jesus to show everybody what the original birth of Jesus might have looked like. And, Jesus isn’t a wooden figure either! He’s a real person in history, just like you and me. He was born over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. He was very special,
and that’s why we have performances and wooden figures to remember Him.”
“W hat’s so special about Jesus?” Erin asked.
“Yes, tell us! I always thought Jesus was the wooden figure, just like Barbie is a doll!” Vanessa said.
Miss Jacob said, “Jesus was God, but He chose to be born a human being and live a human life. He came to earth to die for our sin—that’s our disobedience towards God—so that, if we are sorry for our sin, we may be forgiven and become part of His family—God’s family. Jesus came to save us from sin! That’s why He’s special. Do you want to hear more about Jesus?”
The girls nodded excitedly. —RW
Reflection
Lord,thankYou for sendingJesustoearthto be born a human life.beingandliveahuman ThankYou that He died for our sin so that, weifwearesorryforoursin, becomemaybeforgivenandpartofYourfamily.
What are some ways people celebrate Christmas? The real celebration is about Jesus’ birth as it is God’s plan to save us. Whom can you tell about Jesus’ birth this Christmas?
The True Present
Verse of the Day
I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. —Luke 2:10
READ Luke 2:1–10
“Why does your family celebrate Christmas?” Kevin asked Auntie Becky, Ethan’s mom. Kevin and Ethan were neighbors and Auntie Becky always walked both of them home after school.
“Each year we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas,” Ethan chimed in, before his mom could reply.
“W ho is Jesus?” Kevin questioned. “Isn’t he just a myth?”
“No, Jesus was a real person,” Auntie Becky responded. “Even though we don’t have pictures of Him, we know He existed because many people wrote about Him. Some books in the Bible are written by people who saw Jesus and followed Him when He was on earth. And there were also Roman and Jewish historians who recorded Jesus as a historical figure, even though they didn’t follow Him.”
“Really?” Kevin replied.
“Yes,” Ethan chimed in again. “Jesus is a real person in history,
as real as my great grandfather or your great grandmother!”
Kevin sighed, “Sometimes I wish my family would celebrate Christmas, like yours, so I could get presents.”
Lord,thankYou for enteringthisworld asatinybabytotake toawayoursins.Helpme celebrate You this Christmas.
“Well, Christmas isn’t really about getting material presents, like toys and games,” Auntie Becky said. “Christmas is about God’s present to all of us. At the first Christmas, God gave us His Son, Jesus, who was born as a tiny baby. Jesus would grow up to become our Savior, the one who would die on the cross to take away our sins. That’s why an angel announced the first Christmas by calling it ‘good news that will cause great joy for all the people’ (Luke 2:10).”
“What is sin, Auntie Becky?” asked Kevin.
“Sin is our disobedience towards God. Why don’t you celebrate Christmas with us?” Auntie Becky invited. “Then you could find out more.” —JM
Reflection
What do you like most about Christmas? Presents?
Food? Christmas is about God showing us His love by sending His Son Jesus into the world. It’s not just about material presents. It’s about God’s present, Jesus Christ, who saves us from our sins.
So It ’s True!
Verse of the Day
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
—Luke 2:11
READ
Luke 2:11–20
Sharilynn dashed into the room and shouted excitedly, “Tornado sighted in Singapore! Look at the pictures my friend sent me on my phone!”
Mom, who was baking Christmas cookies, asked skeptically: “Are you sure? Could it be fake news?”
“Well, let’s ask Google!” Sharilynn replied. After a while, she looked up from her phone and proclaimed: “It’s a waterspout, rather than a tornado. Major newspapers have reported on it.”
Mom listened with a smile, “You know, this reminds me of the Christmas story recorded in Luke 2:11–20. The shepherds were having an ordinary day, when they were told extraordinary news: ‘Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’”
“Imagine the shepherds’ questions: Could this baby that is so
Lord,helpmeto know that the Christmas events
placeinhistory.
were real events that took
vulnerable and weak possibly be the Savior? Would God who is holy and mighty lie in a dirty feeding trough for animals? That’s quite hard to believe, right? So, the shepherds went to check it out. They found Mary and Joseph. And, there was the baby, lying in the manger. It was just as the angel had told them! How about you? Would you like to check out the Christmas story for yourself to find out if it’s true?” Mom asked Sharilynn.
“Er . . .” Sharilynn replied haltingly, “Yes, I’d like to . . . but how?”
“Just like what you did with the tornado news,” Mom said. “We can find out if the Christmas story was reported by reliable sources by looking into the Bible. Shall we do that together?”
Sharilynn nodded eagerly. —CPF
Reflection
Ask your parents or an older Christian in church to guide you to investigate who the gospel writers Matthew and Luke were. What evidence did they give to show that the Christmas events they recounted are indeed true?
Good News
Verse of the Day
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.
—Luke 2:30–31 NLT
READ
Luke 2:25–32
Delicious smells of grilled sausages wafted out of the kitchen. Alex sniffed the air. His tummy growled.
He padded into the kitchen, where a row of juicy sausages lay on the hot grill. Mom was carefully sliding a stuffed turkey into the oven.
“W hat time’s dinner, Mom?” Alex asked.
“Not so soon, dear,” Mom replied. “We have guests tonight. They won’t be here until 7 p.m.”
Sigh, thought Alex gloomily, that’s another two hours of smelling good food without eating anything.
Have you, like Alex, had to wait for something that you really wanted? Waiting can be difficult, especially when we don’t know how long it will take.
Fr om the time the Old Testament was written, the people of God were waiting. God had promised them a Messiah—someone
anointed by God to save His people. They did not know when this promise would be fulfilled. So, for years, they could only wait.
Lord,thankYou for givingusaSavior.Heis the Messiah,Jesus Christ.
Simeon is one such man who waited for the fulfilment of God’s promise. He was told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. When he saw baby Jesus in the temple, he was so happy that he praised God, saying: “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people” (Luke 2:30-31 NLT).
Finally! The wait was over—the Messiah had arrived! Jesus has come to save not only Israel, but also the world, which includes you and me.
Af ter waiting for years, the birth of the Messiah was indeed good news. God has fulfilled His promise to His people. Jesus’ birth was a cause of great joy 2000 years ago and still is today. —JG
Reflection
What does the fulfillment of God’s promise tell you about God’s character?
The Christmas Nail
Verse of the Day
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
—Philippians 2:8
READ
Philippians 2:6–8
Dad clapped his hands and said: “Kids, it is time to decorate the Christmas tree. Sam, could you hand me the blue box please?”
“Sure! But what’s inside and why are we putting it on the tree?” Sam replied.
Dad smiled. “Well, let’s open the box and see.” Sam and Sarah watched eagerly as Dad slit the sticky tapes and removed the cover, revealing a huge, long nail.
Mom took out a paper and read, “This is the Christmas nail. It is hung on a sturdy branch to remind us that the Christmas tree foreshadows the Christ-tree—the cross where Jesus would hang with nails like this.”
Sarah frowned, “What does ‘foreshadows’ mean?”
“G ood question!” Dad said, “At Christmas, we put up the Christmas tree to remember the day Jesus was born. The tree also
helps us remember another event that would happen later, that’s what foreshadows means.” Dad held the nail to one of his wrists and added, “The soldiers used nails like this to hang Jesus on the wooden cross.”
“Yes,” Mom chimed in.
“ Every time we look at our beautiful Christmas tree, let’s remember why we celebrate Christmas. Philippians 2:8 tells us, ‘Being found in appearance as a man, [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.’ At Christmas, we remember the day Jesus was born, and that He came for a reason, that is to save us by dying on the cross. Shall we hang the nail on the tree now?”
Lord,thankYou for sendingJesustocometo earth as a man. ThankYouforlovingusso much that Jesus cameustodieforoursins.Help tospreadYourlove to others!
Sam shouted excitedly, “Yes! And let’s put it where everyone can see it!” —BW
Reflection
What can you do to help yourself remember why Jesus was born? Draw some ideas out and put them up in a prominent place to remind you of the reason for the season.
Praise God Everywhere
Verse of the Day
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. — Psalm 117:1
READ
Psalm 117
The Yeo family were sitting on the beach in Bintan island, Indonesia, enjoying the sunset. “This is beautiful!” Mom exclaimed as vibrant hues of pink and purple filled the sky.
Dad suddenly started singing a song of praise to God. Yan Min shushed her father. “Not too loud, Dad!” she said.
“W hy, my dear?” Dad asked, perplexed.
“Because we are not in church,” said Yan Min. “How can we just praise God aloud like this, in a public place?”
Dad thought for a moment, then said, “God is not just God in our church. He is God of this world and its rightful King. We can acknowledge and praise Him anywhere.”
Mom added: “Psalm 117 tells the nations to praise the Lord because of His great love and faithfulness. One day, all nations will worship Him. And right now, Dad is praising God for His wonderful creation.”
Dad nodded. “And I feel especially thankful to Him now, for giving us this beautiful sunset that we can enjoy as a family.”
“I see,” Jin Han said. “So if we’re thankful for what God has given us, we can worship and praise Him anywhere, not just in church.”
Lord,thankYou thatpraiseswecansingYour anywhere! andForgreatisYourlove Your faithfulness endures forever.
Yan Min nodded. Then, she added: “Maybe it’d be okay if Dad sang better.”
Dad pretended to look offended, and jumped up to chase a laughing Yan Min around the beach. “So that’s the real reason you think I shouldn’t sing!” —EE
Reflection
What can you praise God for today? Think of three things and praise Him now!
Hero and Princess
Verse of the Day
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. —Luke 1:68
READ Luke 1:68–75
“Once upon a time, there lived a great king.” Mom paused and turned the page.
“I don’t like this kind of story!” Jude complained. “It always has princesses and kissing at the end. Yucks!”
“You haven’t given this one a chance,” Mom insisted. “It has a monster and a hero who saves the kingdom. No princesses, I promise. Anyway, the very best story of all is about a hero who came to rescue a princess.”
“No way! I’ll never listen to that story,” Jude scowled.
Mom laughed. “You’ve already heard that story. It is the story of the hero, Jesus. Remember? Jesus defeated Satan and saved His people from sin, which is disobedience to God. He didn’t do it with a sword or in a battle, but on the cross. He took our punishment for sin, and set us free—just like a superhero who defeats the bad guys and saves the city.”
Mom pulled out her Bible and turned to the Gospel of Luke. “In Luke 1, Zechariah praises God for sending Jesus ‘to rescue us’ and ‘to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness’ (vv.74–75). With Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become a part of God’s family and seek to please Him.”
Lord,thankYou forrescuesendingJesustomefrommy Lordsin.IacceptYouasmy and Savior.I want familytobecomeapartofYour andpleaseYouwithmylife.
“I get it,” Jude nodded. Then he looked puzzled, “But there are no princesses in that story.”
“T here is a princess,” Mom smiled. “The Bible says that Jesus rescued us. Now, we are waiting for Him to come again. When He does, there will be a real ‘happily ever after’ ending.”
“Wait! We’re the princess!” Jude exclaimed.
“We are,” Mom laughed, “and Jesus is our hero, rescuer, Lord and Savior.” —HLO
Reflection
The Bible tells us that all of us have sinned, meaning we have all disobeyed God. Yet, God sent a rescuer to save us: Jesus. Do you want Jesus to be your hero, rescuer, Lord and Savior? Say today’s prayer.
What ’s Best Verse of the Day
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
—Romans 8:28
READ Romans 8:26–28
“What are you doing, Aaron?” Dad asked as he entered Aaron’s bedroom, munching on some chocolate biscuits.
“I ’m praying!” Aaron replied, raising his head. “I’m asking God to change my class assignment and put me in the same class as my best friend when school starts!” Aaron was disappointed that his best friend, Jeremiah, was assigned to a different class from him, starting next year.
“I k now God will answer me,” Aaron smiled. “God answers prayers, right?”
“Well, yes, but . . .” Dad was about to continue when Trooper the family dog barged in, saw the chocolate biscuits Dad was holding, and lunged at them.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
“Trooper, no!” Aaron shouted, grabbing Trooper and holding him
back. “Chocolate is poisonous for dogs! I’ll give you some other snacks.”
As Aaron fed Trooper some doggy treats, Dad spoke up, “You know, Aaron, Trooper wanted chocolate, but we didn’t give him what he wanted because it was bad for him.
Lord,help me to trust You whenYou say ‘no’to me.I knowYoutrulyknowwhat’s best for me,andYou workfor the good of those who love You.
In the same way, we may want certain things, and ask God for them, but He may not give us what we want. We may think we know what’s best, but God truly knows what’s best for us. Do you remember this month’s memory verse from Sunday School?”
Aaron replied: “Romans 8:28 says ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him’ . . . So, God answers prayers but sometimes, He may say ‘no’?”
Dad nodded. “God’s answer may be ‘no’ when what we ask for doesn’t fit in with what’s best for us. We can still bring our heart’s desires to Him, but we need to trust God if His answer is ‘no’.” —RW
Reflection
What have you felt disappointed about recently? Have you prayed about it? Ask God for the wisdom to know how to pray, and how to accept His answer.
Comforted to Comfort
Verse of the Day
[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
—2 Corinthians 1:4
READ
2 Corinthians 1:3–7
“Hey sweetie, how was the first day of school?” Mom asked as Lucy hopped into the car.
“Super!” Lucy replied. “Our form teacher Mrs Yeo put us into new groups, and Anne and I are group mates!”
“How lovely!” Mom replied. “Who else is in your group?”
“Well . . . there’s a new girl, Lynn. Her family has just moved here from Hong Kong. She’s really quiet and didn’t say a word during our group discussion, so Anne and I just talked to each other.” Lucy shrugged.
Mom peered at her through the rearview mirror. “Do you remember how you felt when you transferred to this school last year and didn’t know anyone?”
“Hmm . . .” Lucy thought hard. “That was a while ago . . . I remember feeling a bit scared . . . and lost.” Then she brightened as she recalled, “But Anne was really friendly and showed me around!”
“Yes. And we were so grateful for A nne’s kindness, remember? Now, do you think there might just be a reason Mrs Yeo placed Lynn in your group?”
“O h! I guess . . .” Lucy’s face flushed.
Mom gently added, “When you were feeling lonely and afraid in a new environment last year, God sent you a special friend. That reminds me of 2 Corinthians 1:4, which tells us that God comforts us in all our troubles, so we can understand and connect with others who are facing hard times, and share His love with them.”
Lord,thankYou for cheeredprovidingpeoplewho meupand sadhelpedmewhenIwas or troubled.Show me whom I can reach out to,who needs a friend to care for and comfort them.
“I have a plan!” Lucy declared as she reached into her bag for her sparkly gel pens. “I’ll make Lynn a welcome card, and ask her to recess with Anne and me tomorrow! We’ll show her our favorite hangouts too!”
“G reat idea!” Mom beamed. —SH
Reflection
Think of a time when you felt down and God sent someone to comfort you. Can you think of someone who might be going through a similar experience? Write an encouraging note to them!
CPR
Verse of the Day
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
—Ephesians 2:8
READ
Ephesians 2:1–9
“What are you doing with my teddy?” Rebecca yanked her giant plush bear from beneath her older sister’s interlocked hands.
“Relax, I’m just practising the CPR steps I learnt at school today,” Rachel replied.
“C-P-what?”
“CPR. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It’s what you do in an emergency, to help a person who has stopped breathing and whose heart may have stopped beating. You compress the person’s chest and breathe into the person’s mouth to try and get his heart and lungs to start working again.”
“Breath into his mouth? Eeeew!” Rebecca grimaced.
“You’d be grateful if you were the victim,” explained her sister. “You wouldn’t be able to save yourself!”
“You know,” Mom interjected, “CPR is a really great picture of
what God does for us.”
“How so?” Rachel asked.
Lord,helpmeto recognizethatIam cannotspirituallydead.Isavemyself. ThankYouforsavingme.
“Ephesians 2 tells us that we were all born dead. Not physically dead, of course, but spiritually dead, because of our sin. That means that we’re separated from God and can’t save ourselves. Fortunately, God intervened. Verses 4 and 5 tell us: ‘But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.’ God sent Jesus His Son to take away our sin, so that, if we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are made alive and become part of God’s family.”
“So, God performed CPR on us?” Rachel asked. Mom smiled. “Something like that!”
“A ll the more reason for me to practise CPR then!” Rachel smiled cheekily as she ran after her sister. “Give me your teddy, Rebecca!” —KQ
Reflection
Have you accepted God’s gift of salvation? Pray for family members and friends who haven’t come to realize their need to be saved to accept God’s gift of Jesus as their Savior.
Worldly Gains
Verse of the Day
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? —Mark 8:36
READ
Mark 8:34–37
When you do well in a sports or academic competition, you will be awarded a shiny medal or a beautiful certificate for your achievement. Would you throw your prize away?
Most certainly not! However, that was what John Sung (1901–1944) did.
A young man from China, John went to the United States to study at a university. In just five years, he completed his studies and earned a PhD, which was a very high academic achievement.
John’s accomplishments brought him fame and recognition. While in America, he was offered jobs and scholarships but he did not accept them. He felt that God wanted him in China to preach the message of Christ to his countrymen.
On his way home, John threw his medals and awards into the sea. He kept only his university certificate so that he could give it to his father. Why did he do that? John’s actions were a response to
Jesus’ question in Mark 8:36
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
Jesus tells us that to be His disciples, we need to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.
Lord,I want to be toYourdisciple.Iwant followYou.
In John’s case, he realized that those medals and awards he had earned could not help him follow Jesus. He was so determined to obey and serve God that he got rid of anything that would distract him from doing so.
God wants us to do our best to honor Him in our studies, and in our interests and talents. But will we, like John, be willing to give up a shiny medal or a beautiful certificate so that we could obey and serve Him, if God asks us too? —JG
There are many things in the world that take our attention away from God. What will you give up today to follow Jesus Christ? Reflection
Love Differently
Verse of the Day
Verse of the Day
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
—Romans 15:7
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
—Luke 12:15
READ Romans 15:1–7
“Hey Morgan! Have you seen that new boy in school?” Jarod asked.
“You mean Xiao Ming, the new boy from Singapore?” Morgan replied casually.
“Yeah, that’s him. He speaks in such a weird way. I can barely understand him!” Jarod replied mockingly, scrunching up his face.
“Hmm . . . I didn’t notice. He seems really nice and friendly. He even offered me his pencil when I broke mine in class today,” Morgan said in Xiao Ming’s defence.
“Well, I don’t like him one bit and I think you shouldn’t either,” Jarod continued, undeterred.
“You know, Jarod. That isn’t very kind of you. Can you imagine if you swapped places with Xiao Ming and you entered a new school with no friends and people treated you this way? How would you feel?” Morgan retorted, trying to stay calm.
“Just last week in church, I learnt about how we should accept one another just as Jesus accepted us (Romans 15:7). We weren’t the best versions of ourselves when Jesus died for us, but He still chose to love us unconditionally. I know I’m grateful for that kind of love, and would like to be like Jesus in showing it to others,” Morgan continued.
acceptLord,helpmeto differentthosewhoare from me and treat them in the same wayasYouwould.Amen.
“But Xiao Ming is so different from us . . .” Jarod argued.
“G od made all of us in His image and that makes every single person important; no matter how different they are from us. Would you at least try to get to know Xiao Ming? You might find that you really enjoy his friendship,” Morgan encouraged, placing his arm around Jarod.
“I guess I could. Thanks for pushing me to love differently, Morgan!” Jarod smiled.
“We’re all learning together. Race you to the basketball court!” Morgan piped up. —AT
Reflection
Can you think of three things you can do for someone who seems out of place in your school/home/church/ community that could encourage them? Ask God for the courage to show love to this person this week!
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A devotional that explains God ’s Word through engaging stories.
With devotions that children can connect with and questions to get them thinking and talking, this 31-day devotional will encourage families and their young ones to spend time in God’s Word and draw closer to Him.
