Bright and Shiny Object

 BRIGHT AND SHINY OBJECT

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Matthew 25:11-12: “Later the others also came.  ‘Sir!  Sir!’ they said.  ‘Open the door for us!’

“But He replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’”

            Scripture teaches that grace is undeserved and unearned favor.  Grace represents the unconditional love our Father shows His kids.  Grace is one awesome promise!  Our Father’s grace for His kids is expressed through the redemptive, or saving work, of Jesus Christ. 

            However, universal grace must not be confused with universalism. 

            Universalism is the mistaken idea that all people go to heaven! 

            Earth is people’s proving ground.  Our lives prove—regardless of what we say—whose we are.  So many people chase after the newest bright and shiny object so that the Day of Judgment captures them off guard!  Scripture teaches that God’s kids are justified by our faith (Galatians 3:11, 24).  Justified [JUS-ti-fied] here means that the Father accepts Believers-in-Christ as His own. 

            Grace and justified are two happy adjectives that describe whose we are. 

            Ephesians 1:4-5 adds, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love He predestined [decided] us to be adopted as His sons by faith in Jesus Christ.”  

            While Jesus was on earth the first time, He released grace to those around Him.  He healed and cared for everyone who came to Him.  But many refused to repent (turn away from their sins) and believe in Him. 

            The bridegroom in Matthew 25 represents Jesus.  He will return to earth one day soon to collect Believers for eternity.  Unlike the people in the opening Scripture, Jesus will not shut the door of eternal life on those whose fire for Him still blazes.  See the lesson linked below that shows doubters who allow their light to go out (or love for Jesus dim while they wait for His return). 

            Doubters allow the newest bright and shiny object to divert their attention away from their Savior!  

Take Home Nugget

            Jesus warns us in Matthew 25:13: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”  This means that no one knows the moment of death.  The Day of Judgment will surprise many who chase after the newest bright and shiny object and are not prepared for Jesus’ return. 

            Living on earth is where and when grace and justification align Believers under the Lordship of our Savior Jesus. 

   

Heavenly Father, Thank You for your grace and acceptance through my faith in Jesus. Please keep me on fire for Him that prevents my chasing after the newest bright and shiny object!  I’m praying this in the name of my Savior, King Jesus.  Amen.

Adapted from “Will Jesus Claim You?” by Pastor Mark Jeske.  August 16, 2018.  www.TimeOfGrace.org.

J.D. Griffith

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Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

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  This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

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Something We Never Knew We Needed

SOMETHING WE NEVER KNEW WE NEEDED

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

            “Happy Birthday!”

            Twelve-year-old Scotty gasped as he opened the door to a crowd of cheering kids.  A huge grin spread across Scotty’s face.  Walking into the party room, he greeted the guests with, “Thanks for coming, let’s party!”

            Scotty was surprised.  He wondered why mom insisted they go to the video-game club today.  His birthday isn’t until Saturday.  The rowdy kids refused to be still.  “Open your presents!” they demanded. 

            One day, every person on earth will open the door to eternity.  Will you gasp at what surprises you there?  Will Jesus welcome you?  Or will smothering blackness engulf you? 

            With people freaking out about the future, why isn’t anyone giving us confidence?  

The future isn’t something to fear.  No one can escape tomorrow.  Jesus warns us not to worry. 

            Jesus says in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what will you wear.  Is life not more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

            Everyone who trusts Jesus and believes what He said can have confidence.   Apostle John writes in 1 John 5:13-15, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

            “This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

            “And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

Take Home Nugget

            Just like the presents Scotty received at his birthday party, Believers-in-Christ know that our salvation is a gift.  No one earns salvation.  Salvation totally depends on God’s grace.  We didn’t even realize that salvation is something we needed! 

            Check out the lesson linked below to see why God sent Jesus to earth and how Believers-in-Christ are richly blessed.

            Apostle Paul provides people confidence in Romans 10:9:  [When] “you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

            Dr. Luke guarantees this in Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else [Jesus Christ], for there is no other name in heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Holy God, Thank You for sending Jesus to earth so we can spend eternity with You! 

Adapted from “The Cost of Grace” by Dr. Tony Evans.  May 27, 2018.  See The Urban Alternative at www.LightSource.com.    

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Something We Never Knew We Needed

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Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here 

  This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:   

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

There's No 'I' in the Word Body

 THERE’S NO ‘I’ IN THE WORD BODY

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Song of Songs 4:12: “You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.”

            Author Solomon writes adoring words showing that our Father is crazy about His kids.  Male/female labels (sister, bride) should be taken metaphorically [met-a-FOR-i-ka-lee].  A metaphor is something that stands for something else.

 

            Song of Songs’ speaker is our heavenly Father.  The sister or bride are His kids—every one of us! 

             This devotion, “There’s No ‘I’ in the Word Body,” sounds like someone is holding out on God.  Do we actually shut out God from of our lives?  It’s a huge privilege that our Father wants us—His created beings—to know Him and share our concerns with Him! 

            That’s called a relationship.  And there are two ‘I’s in the word relationship. 

   

            Believers-in-Jesus make up His body, the church.  Ephesians 5:30 says, “for we are members of His body.”  Verse 32 adds, “This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” 

            Instead of a building, God’s church is made up of people who believe in and follow God’s Son Jesus.  In 1 Corinthians 6:15a, Apostle Paul writes, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself?”  He also writes in Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since the members of one body you were called to peace...”

            God’s kids share one faith, one Baptism, and we’re all led by one Spirit. 

            I always assumed I can do this!  However, doesn’t Psalm 145:18 remind us, “The LORD is near to all who call on Him”?  We figure that we save time by doing everything ourselves.  But the opposite is true.  When the Master of the Universe is included in our lives, our effectiveness and productivity of our work are awesome!

            Check out the lesson linked below for individual gifts that each member of Jesus’ body receives.  There’s No ‘I’ in the Word Body doesn’t exclude our individualism.  

      

Take Home Nugget

            One takeaway point is to always include the Father in our lives.  Prayer takes only moments to ask for God’s assistance.  Our Father enjoys our sharing our concerns and talents with Him.  Talent-sharing is how each is wired and shows our value in His body. 

            The second takeaway point is to never forget that we’re not alone.  It’s okay to need help.  Being there for each other is never a burden.  Sharing ourselves strengthens our relationships with God and others. 

Thank You, heavenly Father, that we never have to go it alone living on earth!  Remind me when I’m too stubborn to ask You or someone else for help!  Amen.

   

Adapted from “I Can Do This Myself” by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.  August 16, 2018.  www.HolyLandMoments.com

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for There’s No ‘I’ in the Word Body

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Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here 

  This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

God Never Requests

 GOD NEVER REQUESTS

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Matthew 6:34:  “Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

            Do you realize that today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday?

            Those who place God first in their lives never worry. … Worry is background noise that robs today of fun.  Whatever happened yesterday is over with.  Whatever went wrong yesterday can be made right today.  Whatever is scary about tomorrow robs today of happiness.

            Why let worry rob you of fun and happiness every day?

             Tomorrow is the one thing that we’ll never run out of.  As long as we’re living on earth, God will graciously provide us another tomorrow.  

  

            Psalm 118:24 advises, “Today is a day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

            What if we could change one thing that would make a startling difference in our lives?  Let’s agree to make God first, the most important thing.  When He claims that slot, everything else—thoughts, hopes, and decisions—will fall neatly into its rightful place.  Let’s spend time alone with God.  Let’s see the world around us through His eyes.  Let’s please Him first.  Let’s work with His Spirit to conform our attitude and character to Jesus’ first.

            Everything works out well when we appoint God first place in our lives. 

 

            God never requests.  But whatever He commands, He deserves.  When His kids choose to obey Him by making Him first in our lives, we gain good things that we never realized are ours.  Jesus came to provide us abundant lives.  John 10:10 quotes Jesus:  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

            Jesus included worrying about tomorrow, robbing us of fun today.  See the lesson linked below what we can substitute for worry as first place.  God has our backs when we put Him first.  When we follow His will, making His kingdom and righteousness our priority, He’ll cover us.  Every mistake we make works out for our own good. 

             

Take Home Nugget

            God never requests, but He rewards obedience beyond what we think possible.  

Making God’s will and His kingdom first frees us from worry.  We can wake up to seize every new day!   We’ll never be bound by yesterday or tomorrow, chained between both.

 

            We can take charge and rob these two thieves of their imagined power over us.

Holy Father, While I can’t change yesterday nor control tomorrow, I ask You to empower me to seize success for today by placing Your kingdom and righteousness first.  Thank You for today, in Jesus’ precious name, Amen. 

    

Adapted from “How Are Yesterday and Tomorrow Thieves?” by Dr. Tony Evans.  February 5, 2018.  The Alternative at www.LightSource.com

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for God Never Requests

 For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here   

This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:   

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Conformed into the Image of Jesus

 CONFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Colossians 3

 Colossians 3:1-4: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, [having risen out of the Baptismal waters], set yourself on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

“For you have died [symbolized by being under the Baptismal water], and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.”

            Our Father in heaven has a purpose for each of us: He wants each believer-in-Jesus to be conformed into the image of Jesus.  Since Jesus is 100% human and 100% God, people can relate to the human part of Jesus.  Because conforming into the image of Jesus is our Father’s idea, He supplies all we need. 

            Does that sound good to you?  Every person must decide whether or not to be conformed into Christ-likeness.  If your answer is “Yes,” you can follow His indwelling Spirit, who comes to every believer when we agree to believe in Jesus.  God’s Spirit conforms us into Jesus-like image. 

            His Spirit becomes our leader.  His Spirit works all day—every day—to conform human behavior into God-like behavior.  Our part is to work with His Spirit instead of rejecting His lead.  Our part to conform into Jesus-likeness in obedience to the Spirit’s lead.

            Soon, human followers of Jesus will think like and act like Him.  We’ll reflect Jesus’ quality of character, which mimics our Father’s nature of uprightness.  Jesus told Phillip in John 14:9, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  Those who follow Jesus and work with His Spirit can grow to be like Him.   We can conform into God-like people throughout our lives. 

 

            Then our Father’s purpose for us will be done!

Take Home Nugget

            When we think about all the pieces of our lives, we may both smile, then shudder.  We approve of being conformed into Jesus-likeness when we love others.  Since Jesus commanded us to love others in John 13:34. 

            Do we shudder when realizing that we don’t love all people?

            That’s where our being brand-new creations after Baptism comes in.  When we come out of the Baptismal water, the old has gone and the new has come! 

            See the lesson linked below for confirmation of what’s gone and how we’re being conformed into Jesus-likeness since our baptism.  How does question 5 label believers-in-Jesus?

Heavenly Father, Your purpose for all your kids is to conform into the image of Your Son Jesus.  Empower me, as Your baptized kid, to obey Your Spirit’s lead all my life.  I ask this in Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.

Adapted from “Just Like Jesus” by Dr. Tony Evans.  August 10, 2018.   The Alternative at www.LightSource.com

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Conformed into the Image of Jesus

 For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here  

This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers