1 Peter 3:1-9 (The Living Bible, TLB)

Wives, fit in with your husbands’ plans; for then if they refuse to listen when you talk to them about the Lord, they will be won by your respectful, pure behavior. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words.

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on jewelry, or beautiful clothes, or hair arrangement. Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so precious to God. That kind of deep beauty was seen in the saintly women of old, who trusted God and fitted in with their husbands’ plans.

Sarah, for instance, obeyed her husband Abraham, honoring him as head of the house. And if you do the same, you will be following in her steps like good daughters and doing what is right; then you will not need to fear offending your husbands.

You husbands must be careful of your wives, being thoughtful of their needs and honoring them as the weaker sex. Remember that you and your wife are partners in receiving God’s blessings, and if you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers.

And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

Explanation:

In this book of the New Testament, Peter is addressing the persecuted Christians. He has already addressed submission to governing authorities in 1 Peter 2, and now he is addressing behaviors in personal relationships, specifically marriages. The husband and wife relationship is by far the most difficult and the most work. We have to regularly die to ourselves, our own wants and desires, and be submissive AND loving. Peter tells the wives that a gentle, quiet spirit will reflect more beauty and attraction to her husband than chasing after outward appearances. He reminds the husbands that they are partners with their wives when receiving God’s blessings.

When our lives reflect that we trust God and treat others with the mind frame that we are preparing our hearts for heaven, we give the best opportunity for God to be accepted by unbelievers. Have you ever heard the phrase “actions speak louder than words”? When we set our hearts to align with God’s will, our actions will reflect it. What others see from us is more impactful than the words we share with them. The most loving thing you can do is keep God as the highest priority in any relationship. Trust that He placed you in the marriage, the church, the job, the family that He did, and be fearlessly loving and submissive.

I love the way Peter addresses all relationships in the last few verses. I can’t help but feel the conviction in my own heart when I think about how I tend to react to negativity. I’m reminded that first going to prayer for anyone or anything that is in opposition to me will bring God’s blessings. It will be difficult to be submissive in some situations, but remember that how you submit accomplishes greater things. We are all called to love our neighbors. When we prepare our hearts to make kindness a natural reaction, submission doesn’t seem like as big of a challenge.

Application:

1. Do you find it difficult to be submissive to non-Christians? How do you typically react?

2. Being a Christ follower, would others recognize you as such if they saw you outside of church? Would your spouse, family, and/or friends see a “gentle and quiet spirit”?

3. Think about the different relationships in your life and the people who would be dramatically impacted if they knew Jesus. Write their name(s) and pray for them.

Devo Plus:

Take extra steps to show kindness to EVERYONE you come into contact with. Be intentional to honor those around you. Make your first step to pray for each person, and ask to see them from God’s perspective.

Prayer:

Jesus, first of all, thank You for pursuing us in relationship, and giving us a guide to know how to be in relationship with others. I want to exemplify the love You have not only for me but for all those around me. I want to be eternity minded with all interactions. I am submitting all of my relationships to You, and asking for Your discernment and strength in my demeanor toward them. Amen.

Ephesians 5:21-33 (NRSV)

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Explanation:

There is hot debate about Paul’s use of Household Codes in scripture, such as the one we have above. Many of them have been used throughout history for the subjugation and domination of other people. The Household Codes have been used to justify slavery, sexism, and abuse of women and children throughout much of history. But it is my opinion that this use of scripture stands in opposition to Paul’s intentions when he wrote the Household Codes. It seems rather than Paul giving justification for the subjugation and dominance of others (or a strict hierarchy to be followed), he was giving practical ways in which love played out in the everyday lives of the believers in his churches.

For Paul, loving others was the way new life in Christ played out. Loving others meant often giving up your own desires and preferences for the other – or said differently, submission. It meant honoring the other, and treating them with dignity and respect. It meant doing what it takes to care for the needs of the other. This was the way all believers were to act toward each other (5:21), even husbands and wives. Every relationship was to reflect the type of love Christ embodied and modeled. Because Christ submitted, we submit. Because Christ sacrificed for others, we do the same. You will never have Christian love without these qualities…no matter how unpopular they will be. But they are to be freely given, out of a desire to be like Christ…not something demanded or forced. Whenever it comes to forcing someone to adhere to this principle or needing to be forced, I think both parties may be missing the heart of Paul. Instead, we strive and desire to love the way Christ loved us.

Application:

1. Submission is a difficult topic in our culture. How does Paul’s call to include submission in relationships hit you?

2. Is submission a challenging idea for you? If so, take some time to reflect on why that is. Have you experienced abuse at the hands of someone? Or is it that you don’t like being told what to do? Spend some time reflecting.

3. Is there a situation right now that is calling you to sacrifice your own desires for the good of another? How can reflecting on the way Jesus loves you change your perspective on this?

Devo Plus:

Read John 13:1-20 and reflect on the love Jesus exemplified to His followers.

Prayer:

Father, there are certain things that You ask us to do that fly in the face of our culture and even what seems natural to us. But You ask us to trust You, and to live and love the way You do. That seems impossible at times. Help me. I want to love the way You love. I want to treat others the way You treated me…even when they don’t deserve it…even when I don’t feel like it. Help me to submit. Help me to trust You in that, knowing I often submit myself to imperfect people. Protect me as I follow You. Amen.

Luke 9:23-26 (ESV)

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Explanation:

The above words are Jesus speaking to His disciples, telling them that if they want to follow Him, it is not always going to be easy, and often times it will require much sacrifice. He reminds them that pursuing God should be the most important relationship in their lives. Whoever lives a self-centered life focused on worldly gain will not find eternal life with God. Jesus also gives a sobering reminder that whoever rejects or denies Him as their savior, the same will be true when Jesus comes back for all believers.

These words from Jesus are still true today for all Christians. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus, it is going to be tough at times. You will have to make sacrifices with your time, energy, resources, and finances. Denying yourself is not only giving up certain things, but also giving up personal control of many decisions in your life. It is also about putting others’ needs before your own. Submission to God’s Spirit and His word is also an important part in one’s faith walk.

When Jesus tells us, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me,” He is telling us that walking in our faith is a daily commitment. To believe in God, but not submit to or follow His commands, is not an authentic faith. We don’t just do it once and then arrive; it takes a lifetime to deny our wants and desires and put others first. Following God is the narrow path that not everyone finds. It takes service and sacrifice, but all of this is worth it to have a relationship with Your Savior!

Application:

1. Every human desires to be in meaningful relationships; however, sometimes those relationships require a lot of work. Why is it difficult at times to deny yourself and submit to others’ needs?

2. What do you think it means when Jesus says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it”?

3. Being ashamed of someone or something is not a good feeling, and can be devastating to any relationship. However, we have a good Father who gives grace and forgiveness when we make mistakes. If you have ever been quiet when you should have spoken to someone about your faith, don’t dwell on it. Ask for forgiveness and for other opportunities to share your faith. Be bold.

Devo Plus:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (ESV)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and sacrificing Your Son to take away my sins. Show me the things You are asking me to give to You. Give me wisdom in the areas I need to change, so that my desires align with Your will. Help me to be submissive to Your calling in my life, and give me opportunities to deny myself to serve others. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:1-5 (NLT)

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

Explanation:

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy while he was waiting execution in Rome. Timothy was not Paul’s biological son, but his son in the faith—his protégé, his understudy, and now the one who was going to carry on the work that Paul had started. Can you imagine how overwhelmed Timothy must have felt? How many of us today would have looked at that insurmountable task and said, “Nope. I’m out. Someone else can run with this.”

Paul knew that Timothy was timid by nature, and he encouraged Timothy to go forward. Timothy was likely feeling unqualified for ministry. Paul reminds Timothy that if God has called him through the gospel and given him new life in Christ, then he must run the race. Eternity is just around the corner, and you’ve got to faithfully carry the torch like our forefathers did.

Paul persevered through incredible trials, disappointments, loss, persecution, and even death. He was not perfect, by any means, but he walked in reality before God, confessing his sins and walking in love. He knew that he would have to give an account of his ministry before God, and implored Timothy to work to please God in the work that he was doing. Paul was leaving a legacy behind in his work, and encouraged Timothy to do the same.

Application:

1. Do you think that when Timothy read Paul’s letter, it gave him the courage to serve boldly? How would you react if Paul had written these words to you?

2. Paul wasn’t just encouraging Timothy; his words were meant for us as well. How can you better serve God and spread His truth in your daily life?

3. Why is it important for us to serve?

Devo Plus:

Here are some scriptures that discuss the importance of us leaving a spiritual legacy: Proverbs 13:22, Deuteronomy 6:5-7; Ephesians 6:4; and Exodus 20:5-6.

Prayer:

Take some time today to ask God how you can serve Him better and more boldly in your daily life. Ask for guidance in your choices, and thank Him for allowing you to have the opportunity to serve Him.

Hebrews 12:7 – 11 (ESV)

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Explanation:

I recently had a conversation with my daughter where I referenced the very words that you read today. I was trying my best to teach her a very special godly truth, and you want to know what her response was? When I told her that discipline is necessary for us at times, she responded by saying, “That does not make sense.” To which I replied, “I understand, but…” and went on to explain what I am about to explain to you.

Believe me, if I had my choice, I would have chosen not to be disciplined by my earthly parents or my Heavenly Father. Just as my daughter was wrestling with it, I too understand that discipline can be very uncomfortable. However, it is necessary. It’s necessary for many reasons, but the one that I am going to focus on today is this: we need correction. To assume that we are always doing the right thing and knowing the right way to live is stupidity.

It is very foolish of my kids to assume that they are automatic experts at living the “best” way. They seem to think they know best at times, but they simply do not. Not until they are taught by their mother and me. We are not experts either; however, we can give them all we know to be true about God and what we have experienced with Him thus far.

I was not raised in a Christian home, and although my parents did well to discipline me and teach me manners when I was little, I still lacked a relationship with God. Knowing what I know now, I desperately want my kiddos to know God relationally. To not just know the facts about God, but to be personally connected to Him each and every day. This does not come easy. Like us adults, kids are very prone to operate apart from God. We are far from perfect, but we are striving more and more to be purposed to help them develop a love for God and the life that He brings to us when we follow Him. This at times requires us to discipline in hopes that it will point to them in the right direction and correct behaviors that are damaging. God will do this for us, and we want to model that for our kiddos.

Application:

1. How has discipline from God and others played a part in your life in helping you correct damaging behaviors?

2. When was the last time you received discipline, and how has it reshaped the reason for your discipline?

3. Who has God designated as earthly role models for children?

4. How does a parent’s relationship with God impact their children’s relationship with God?

5. Why does God call parents to discipline their children?

Devo Plus:

Let’s take a glance at the discipling of Jacob: look through the story in Genesis 25:19 – 35:15. How did God use discipline to shape Jacob’s character?

Prayer:

God, I may not always be receptive to Your discipline, but I know that I need it to live more like You in every area of my life. I need Your grace and forgiveness for my disobedience, and I want to have a soft heart to hear how You are guiding me. I know that You discipline me in love, help me to endure, repent and live the new life that You offer. (FOR PARENTS: Guide me as a parent to know how to best discipline my child(ren). I know that I am a model for my children on how to live in a relationship with You. I want to desire to live for You above anything else, so that my child(ren) can see how amazing You are.) Amen.

Ephesians 6:1-4 (NLT)

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Explanation:

Neither the Ten Commandments nor the Bible commands us to love our parents.

The Bible does, however, command us to love our neighbor, to love God, and to love the stranger. The Bible understands that there will be someone who, for whatever reason, does not love a parent. Therefore, it does not demand what may be psychologically or emotionally impossible. But the Bible does demand that we show honor to our parents. And it makes this demand only in regards to parents. There is no one else whom the Bible commands us to honor. The greatest opportunity for honor is when age makes their needs your responsibility. You will never regret doing the right thing, even if you have had a challenging relationship.

My dad made it easy for me to obey and honor him because he was honorable, he lived a life that honored Jesus every day, and he was so authentic and steady. His consistency made it easy to know where the boundaries were because he made them clear, they stayed the same, and nothing depended on the mood he was in or who was around. He didn’t say one thing and live another. He treated the hobos we fed on the front porch as kindly as he treated his boss. Because Dad did not provoke me with hypocrisy, I was receptive when he shared instruction or disciplined me.

It takes so much more than a “want to” to be a godly parent. Most of us try a hybrid approach of throwing out the things we disliked that our parents did only to replace them with our own unique mistakes.

You are going to need two things to be a godly parent: 1. A source outside of yourself (books, classes, counseling) that can train you in solid techniques, and 2. The power of the Holy Spirit.

Something that many parents forget is that their children have ears and eyes.

✔️They hear your phone conversations

✔️They observe your responses

✔️They listen from the back seat

✔️They see what you watch

✔️They comprehend your priorities

✔️They know the company you keep

✔️They are absorbing your values in real time for 18 years!

The most provoking thing you can do to your children is live a “do as I say, not what I do” life.

What will impact them is living a godly life worth imitating, in front of them, day in and day out.

Application:

1. Our goal in parenting is to remove obstacles our children could trip over and lose faith in God. What would cause you to trip?

2. When someone is provoked, their heart becomes hard and closed. Why do you think it is so essential to understand the power that provoking has in repelling our children away from God?

3. It is hard to not repeat bad parenting. If you were imprinted by bad parenting, and need help, The Tree Church offers parenting classes three times a year as well as mentoring and professional counseling. Sign up today!

Devo Plus:

I was a Children’s Pastor for 30 years. Hands down the question I was asked most was, “Should I make my children attend church?”

The answer is “Yes.”

You absolutely should bring all your children with you to church.

We make our children do lots of things they don’t want to do, and then they end up loving it. My boys were furious with me at one point in their lives when I forced them to shower and brush their teeth. I’m quite confident none of them go a day without doing so now… because they love feeling clean. We don’t give our children options about attending school because we know they need to learn, and we are setting them up for success by giving them knowledge. We know what they need, and the same goes with church. Every time they are in church is one more time for the Holy Spirit to touch their heart, to learn one more thing of Jesus' love, one more time to feel His presence, and one more time to learn something from the Word that the Holy Spirit can bring to their remembrance in adulthood. I am so very grateful my parents made me go to church, and I learned to love my church family and God’s special presence in a corporate worship experience. No matter how deep I got in rebellion as a teen, the reality was I knew God was real from those experiences, and I could never outrun the reality of God.

Plus…the church is another layer of support for you as a parent. When they hear their Youth Pastor telling them the same thing you are telling them, it’s a win/win.

Prayer:

Jesus, You made us with spirits and souls and bodies. During this busy time of parenting, I pray You would help me find time to receive refreshment from You. You have such compassion for weary, hungry people. Lead me beside still waters; restore my soul. Amen.

Proverbs 22: 6 (NKJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Explanation:

On the surface, we may think this verse is saying that if we raise our children to love God and put Him first in everything, they will follow Him all the days of their lives. But we know that’s not realistic, and even the author of this verse proves it isn’t true. King Solomon was raised to fear God and keep His commandments, yet turned his affection away from God toward the end of his life (1 Kings 11: 1-13).

So, if life-long devotion to God is not in view here, then what takeaway can godly parents lay hold of? I can give you one good answer from personal experience: never stop praying for your children. From the day I was born, my mom prayed that I would grow up to be a godly man. I accepted Christ when I was 17, but one year later I walked away from my faith. Broken-hearted, my mom prayed even harder. With every decision I made and every consequence I faced, I never forgot the truth about Jesus Christ that was engrained in my heart from childhood. I rejected that truth for 18 more years, but it was always close by as a reminder that God loves me and wants me to return to Him. When I had my fill of this world and had nowhere to run, I embraced the One who saved me.

My mom passed away when I was 20, so on this side of heaven she didn’t see God’s redeeming work in me. But in the spirit realm, the power of her prayers did not end when she died. God continued to pursue me and honored the request of His faithful servant. I am where I am today because of her prayers, and she is where she is because of her mother’s prayers.

Never stop praying for your children.

Application:

1. If you have children, are you praying for them every day?

2. In what ways are you setting good examples of faithfulness to God for your children to see?

3. In what ways are you not setting good examples of faithfulness to God?

Devo Plus:

Psalm 103: 17 & 18 are excellent verses to pray out loud for your children and grandchildren.

Prayer:

Lord God, I lift my children and grandchildren up to You, knowing that only You Who created them can convict them of their need for Jesus. As I commit to living a holy life that they can see, I ask that You never stop protecting them with Your grace while pursuing them with Your love. Amen!

Psalms 78:1-8 (NLT)

A maskil of Asaph

O my people, listen to my instructions.

Open your ears to what I am saying,

for I will speak to you in a parable.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past-

stories we have heard and known,

stories our ancestors handed down to us.

We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the Lord,

about his power and his mighty wonders.

For he issued his laws to Jacob;

he gave his instructions to Israel.

He commanded our ancestors

to teach them to their children,

so the next generations might know them-

even the children not yet born-

and they in turn will teach their own children.

So each generation should set its hope anew in God,

not forgetting his glorious miracles

and obeying his commands.

Then they will not be like their ancestors-

stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,

refusing to give their hearts to God.

Explanation:

In its superscription (a fancy word for heading), this Psalm is called a maskil. The Hebrew root of this word is “sakal,” which means “to have insight, to teach.” We can best understand a maskil in this context as a teaching song ascribed to Asaph, who was one of a number of singers or musicians at the Jerusalem Temple during the reigns of David and Solomon.

The Psalmist focuses on the importance of remembering past events from Israel’s history to show how God preserved His people even when they disobeyed Him repeatedly. We could read this as kind of a downer, but it is actually great news for us as it helps guide us and our future generations away from unbelief and rebellion. The writer is clear that these aren’t secret teachings or riddles, but instead things God wants us to know and remember through His Word. Without Israel’s past, us Gentile Christians would never be part of the story of God; there would be no people for us to be a part of. The stories recounted are not just for the Jews; HE CHOSE US to share His revelation, and entrusts us to pass it on to others. It is a beautiful thing to be trusted, but it is not to be taken lightly. The worst thing we can do is forget all He has done! The wisdom given here is for believers as a whole: we all have an obligation to share these stories with each generation. It is our responsibility, and we are not to assume that someone else will do it.

So what exactly are we supposed to tell the coming generations? Two things: 1) to set their hopes on God, never forgetting just how powerful He is and always has been, and 2) the importance of obeying God’s commands as the best way to live. These both have to do with our hearts. If we genuinely do these ourselves, we can use our lives as testimonies that God would consider “steadfast” and “faithful,” which is the story I want to be told about me.

Application:

1. Think about your own story: the high points (praise God for them and tell someone else about them!) and the low points (forgive yourself or others if need be). If right now is a low point, offer it up to God’s capable and loving hands; at any point, He can change your story to become part of His for future generations!

2. How often do you try to fix it yourself instead of turning to God for His help? Use this Psalm as a reminder that His patience never runs out, no matter how often we run to Him for help. In fact, this is exactly what He wants us to do! We never have to go it alone when we chose to walk with Him.

3. Renew your commitment to tell future generations (I would also include older ones that need to hear!) about all God has done for you. This is the most important gift we can give our children and their children, and in doing so, we are obeying God’s commands for our lives!

Devo Plus:

1. Read other examples of historical Psalms like Psalms 105 and 106.

2. Listen to “We Will Remember” by Maverick City Music. While the above Psalms focus on what Israel did (or didn’t) do, this song focuses on what God did for us in sending His Son to bear what we should have given our history. It is a beautiful version of the most important part of our story when we chose to follow Him:

“We remember, we won’t forget

How You took our lives from the pit

We remember, we won’t forget

Look at where we are now

Look at where we were back then.”

Prayer:

Holy God, we thank You so much for giving us this wisdom in Your Word. You could have included anything, but You chose to help us learn from the past, which is a beautiful way to guide our future. We are grateful for the opportunity to share these stories with our families and ask for Your help in doing so often. And should opportunities to do so pass us by, we humbly ask that You bring them back to us in Your time. Your patience is so gracious, and we can never thank You enough for loving us so. Amen.

Deuteronomy 4: 9-10 (NIV)

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”

Explanation:

This scripture is a warning that Moses was giving to the Israelites. The people were so quickly forgetting the promises and blessings they had received from God after being freed from Egyptian slavery. The Israelites had wandered 40 years, afraid to take over the Promised Land. Moses commands them to remember, and to make sure that each generation coming after them understands the importance of trusting God.

I love working on genealogy. Many years ago, my mother started compiling notebooks on the history of my ancestors. I then started researching my husband's family history, and have started new notebooks, and have added more documentation to the many printed pages I inherited from my mother. I have a closet that is very full of research, and I continue to add to it. During the process of learning about my ancestors, I found out that you must be careful to get every fact accurate, to write it down, back it up, and correct possible mistakes so that my descendants will be able to pass along the correct information about our family's past.

We must do the same in our Christian walk while on the Earth. We are all fallen humans. So were the Israelites. It is our natural tendency to ignore, forget, disobey, bend the truth, change things to fit our narrative, etc. We cannot do that with God's Word – the Bible. Be sure you are passing on the truth to those around you and to all your descendants. This is something we must take very seriously.

Application:

1. Have you ever found yourself wanting to change what the Bible says so that you can justify the actions you are taking? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and help you to see the truth that God has laid out for you. Step out in faith knowing God will guide you.

2. We all have a huge responsibility to instruct the next generation. Are you doing all you can to ensure that happens in your family?

Devo Plus:

My husband and I were part of a worship band years ago. We played and sang this song by Sarah Groves called “Generations”. It speaks volumes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev9x4izogI0

Prayer:

Lord, help us to pass on the blessings of Your written Word – the Bible. Help us to have the faith to believe and share what is true so that our descendants will not forget all that You have done and will continue to do. We want to be found faithful when we stand before You, God. Remind us that Your Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (NIRV)

The Lord your God has directed me to teach you his commands, rules and laws. Obey them in the land you will take over when you go across the Jordan River. Then you, your children and their children after them will honor the Lord your God as long as you live. Obey all his rules and commands I’m giving you. If you do, you will enjoy long life. Israel, listen to me. Make sure you obey me. Then things will go well with you. The number of your people will increase greatly in a land that has plenty of milk and honey. That’s what the Lord, the God of your parents, promised you. Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is the one and only God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength. The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates.

Explanation:

In this scripture, Moses is telling the Israelites to obey God’s commands, rules, and laws, and to love the only true God with all their heart, soul, and strength. They then needed to teach these commands to their children, so that generation after generation would know and love the one true God. The same is true for us now. God loves us so much, and He knows what is best for us. He wants us to follow His rules, to love Him with everything that is in us, and then to teach it to our children. This is the foundation we need to get through this world.

I grew up in a family that would pray about every situation. So that has become my normal: to love God with all my heart. A couple weeks ago, my son was having a bad day at school, and he had to call me and tell me what he had done wrong. Immediately, I felt like I needed to ask God to help me with this situation. A couple of my friends prayed for me, also. God helped provide me with the right words and actions throughout the whole situation. That night while I was putting my son to sleep, we talked about asking God to help him at school. At first, he thought it was silly, but then he realized that I had asked God for help before I talked to him that afternoon. It showed him that I rely on God to get through tough things, also.

I must keep telling my son about God, bringing him to church, and showing him what God does for us so that it becomes his normal. Then, when he has kids of his own, he can be reminded that God is all we need in the middle of any situation.

Maybe you’re not a parent yet, or you didn’t grow up with God and learning about Him. Don’t give up! Keep going to Him in the good times and the bad, and trust with everything that is in front of you.

Application:

1. Is God in everything you do? If not, what have you taken Him out of that He needs to be put back into?

2. Have you been talking to your kids about God? What is stopping you?

3. Ask God to help you find a devotional to do with your kids this week.

Devo Plus:

Take a minute and listen to the song “God I Look to You” by Bethel Music.

Prayer:

Father,

Let me see Your love for me today and show my love back to You. I am so thankful for the things You have given to me. Help me to look different to this world, and when they ask why, let me show them back to You. When something feels out of control, let me come straight to You, Father, and trust that You have it all planned out. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.