Ripen Faster

RIPEN FASTER

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Ephesians 4:12-14:  “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up,

“until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men of men in their deceitful scheming.” 

            “Gimme patience!” ten-year-old Danny screamed. “I want patience right now!”  His stomping feet proved his point.

            His twin brother Benjy laughed out loud.  He said, “While you’re at it, get me some!”

            We can giggle at Danny’s demanding the oxymoron of contradictions.  Patience [PA-shenz] means calm waiting.  Wanting patience immediately won’t happen.  Spiritually speaking, the boys are infants, like we were once.  Growing up is a process—a developing progression of learning one lesson beyond the previous one.  Eventually, (if we don’t give up), we ripen into mature adults.  Along that journey, people may or may not learn patience.  Not everyone develops into wise, responsible and reliable adults.

            The weird thing is that people are way different from one another. 

            That’s why our Father gave us “free will”.  That’s also why He created us in His image (Genesis 1:27).   He wants each person to grow into whatever we choose to become.  Kids hear new ideas and don’t know enough to toss out silly, misguided ones.  That’s why those who constantly change their minds when hearing something new look as though they’re being tossed back and forth by waves, as Apostle Paul warns in the opening Scripture. 

            See the lesson linked below for how Paul wants Christians to ripen, or grow with “the whole measure of the fullness of God.”

            Salvation—believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life—is immediate, Danny.  What takes time is Christlikeness.  Our Father equips each with everything necessary to grow into spiritually-ripe people.  Spiritual maturity is possible for everyone who wants it.  But, that’s a lifelong journey.  We can measure our spiritual growth by seeing the world more from God’s point-of-view than from our human (flesh) eyes.   

  

            Or throwing temper tantrums less!

Take Home Nugget

            Danny, rate X time = distance.  In other words, the faster you grow spiritually, the quicker you’ll achieve patience (plus many other grown-up qualities learned on the spiritual journey). 

Holy Father, I want Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” journey.  Enable me—in Jesus’ name—to see life from Your spiritual eyes. Amen. 

Adapted from “Maturity is a Process” by Dr. Tony Evans.  April 30, 2018.  See “Alternative” at www.LightSource.com

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Ripen Faster

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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. 

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Trial Flavors

TRIAL FLAVORS  

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

James 1:13:  “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” 

            “I like tests!” twelve-year-old Cassie said. 

            Cassie’s classmate, Missy, snickered, “That figures.  You ace tests!”

            God often uses trials to test His kids’ spiritual growth.  While not every trial is a temptation, every temptation is a trial—that come in many flavors.  See lesson linked below for how James urges us to act during trials and why. 

            Before Jesus housecleaned heaven (Hebrews 9:12), angels came before the Lord.  The Father asked the devil, “Have you checked out Job?  He loves Me like no other!”              

            The devil replied, “Isn’t he the guy who You protect?  But, cause Job to lose everything, and he’ll curse You!”

            The Father answered, “Okay, take everything away from Job, but do NOT hurt him!”

            The devil tempted the Sabeans, “Why don’t you steal Job’s donkeys and kill his servants?”  So they did.

 

            Job felt orange, confused and deserted by trusted friends.

            The devil accused the Chaldeans, “Why not steal Job’s camels?”  The Chaldeans stole Job’s camels and killed his servants. 

            Job cried red, angry sorrow for his servants’ families.

    

            The devil found Job’s kids partying.  He blew on them causing a wind to collapse their house.  A servant reported to Job that all his kids were dead. 

            Job grieved utter blackness.

            The devil made painful sores erupt on Job’s body.  “Ugh!  Ow!”  Job broke pottery and taking a shard, scraped the sores off.  He felt black and blue. 

            Job went into shock that showered a rainbow of emotions.

            Job ripped off his fine clothes.  He felt nothing, his mind blown brown.

            Job shaved his head bald.

            Finally, Job fell down sobbing on the ground.  He cried out to God in prayer.

Take Home Nugget

            The devil heard Job’s cry, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked will I depart.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; the name of the LORD be praised.” 

Job saw purple, or God’s royalty. 

Paraphrased from Job 1:6-21, 2:7- 8, 42:12-17.

            Notice: The Father began chatting with the devil.

            The Father laid the ground rules.

            The Father oversaw Job’s trials, never abandoning him.

            The Father noted that Job hadn’t sinned.

            The Father heard Job’s prayer and praise. 

            The Father restored Job’s health, family and provisions.

            Could you or Cassie ace Job’s many-flavored spiritual-growth tests?

Holy Father, Thank You for Apostle Paul’s letter in 1 Corinthians 10:13b: “And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  Amen. 

 Adapted from “Transformed by Temptation” by Dr. Tony Evans.  April 20, 2018.   See “Alternative” at www.LightSource.com

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Trial Flavors

 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

First Fruit Saints

FIRST FRUIT SAINTS  

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

James 1:18:  “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a firstfruits of all He created.” 

            “I just KNOW that we’re going to grow up and be star players in either the NFL (National Football League) or NBA (National Basketball Association)!” Jeremy proclaimed on a bright sunny spring day. 

            Jeremy’s classmate, twelve-year-old Brad, snickered.  “Yeah, Jerm!  I could be Marcus Morris on the Boston Celtics, and you could be his twin brother Markieff on the Washington Wizards!” 

            These twins are stars in the NBA.

            You may chuckle at these young guys’ optimism.  Both professions draft young talent with big dreams like theirs every year.  Jeremy and Brad are bright and shiny Christians that God plucked away from the world for His purpose at their baptism. 

  

            God ONLY accepts “first fruits”.  He never plucks leftovers, for His purpose is supreme.  Like our tithe, first fruits are freely given to God BEFORE our income is spent on other things—like food and housing. 

            So, it’s a very big deal that Believers-in-Christ are weeded out from all others in the world and understand that we’re firstfruit saints.  Nothing is more important to God than firstfruit saints.  Jeremy and Brad know how special they are and live expecting wonderful things to happen. 

  

            Our Father has special plans for each of us.  First fruit saints can believe mighty God’s opinion of how precious we are to Him.  He planted unique ([u-NEEK] means one-of-a-kind) gifts and talents inside us.  May we never live beneath what God has planned for us!  May we never “settle” for ordinary but continue striving for extraordinary.  “Nothing is too hard for God!”  An angel proclaimed this to Sarah in Genesis 18:14 after she chuckled about giving birth.  

Extraordinary is giving birth to a son when a woman is too old.

            Check the lesson linked below to see how God chose you and His plans for transforming you into the likeness of His perfect Son Jesus.

            When we discover our talent or purpose, life sharpens from a blur to clear vision.  Edges become distinct.  Decisions are simple.  We make better choices.  We live on purpose knowing where we’re headed.  Our lives are effective.  We waste no time pursuing what is meaningless. 

            We shine like stars with purpose.  

Take Home Nugget

            Sunday, May 20^th, 2018, is Pentecost.

            Let’s celebrate each day empowered by God’s indwelling Spirit to shine like stars as first fruit saints!

Holy Father, You desire me to shine like a star every day as Your first fruit saint.  Empower me by Your indwelling Spirit to think, talk and act to fulfill Your will, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Adapted from “Focus on God’s Plan” by Dr. Tony Evans.  April 27, 2018.   See “Alternative” at www.LightSource.com

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for First Fruit Saints

 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

Developing Trust

DEVELOPING TRUST 

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Psalms 50:15:  “and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” 

            “Obey what I command you today.  I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.”  The Father clearly had the Israelites’ back!   God still promises feats like this—found in Exodus 34:11—with us today.

            The Father ordered spies to enter the land and report back to gain His people’s trust.  The spies reported that Canaan was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey. … Numbers 13:33 adds, “We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak came the Nephilim).  We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

            Yikes! 

            The Father prevented the Israelites from entering their Promised Land of Canaan because He wanted to teach trust in Him.  So instead of claiming the land that He swore to give to—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the Israelites didn’t trust Him.  So He led them in circles forty years.  (Numbers 14:20-35).  That generation died wandering in the desert.  

            Did the people even recognize the obstacles God put in their way to gain their trust?

            Finding water in a desert? 

            Even Moses got impatient leading these obnoxious people and disobeyed God. 

            God told Moses in Numbers 20:8a, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together.  Speak to the rock before their eyes and it will pour out the water.”  (Emphasis mine).

            Numbers 20:10b-11 says what Moses did, “Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ 

            “Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.  Water gushed out and the community and their livestock drank.”  (Emphasis mine).

            Our heavenly Father is way higher and way more superior to our earthly dads.  Often, they share similar demands on their kids.  Obedience.  Honesty.  Trust.  Our earthly dads and our heavenly Papa both discipline their kids.

            Numbers 20:12 tells how God disciplined Moses, “Because you did not trust Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

Take Home Nugget

            So, while God forbade Moses to enter the land, He did allow Him a peek of it in Deuteronomy 34:4, which is found in the lesson linked below.

            God had a handle on the scary things that freaked out the Israelites.  He was prepared to show them His awesome hand, yet the people did not trust Him!

            Can you trust Papa so He can show you His mighty hand?

Holy Father, Enable me to trust You with all my heart.  Amen.

Adapted from “God’s Faithfulness” by Dr. Tony Evans.  April 25, 2018.  See “Alternative” at www.LightSource.com

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Developing Trust

 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

Egos Like Jesus

EGOS LIKE JESUS

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Philippians 2:3-4:  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. 

“Each of you should look out not only for your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

            Twelve-year-old Jeremy bounced the basketball.  Once.  Twice.  On the third bounce, his classmate Brad swiped away the basketball.  “Hey!  That’s my ball!” Jeremy insisted.

            Brad laughed out loud defending himself, “You’re so slow, Jerm!   Basketball is a FAST game.   I’m not even a point guard, and I can steal your candy!”  Then, Brad took off.

            Jeremy chased Brad dribbling the basketball to the hoop on the other end.  They chuckled while wrestling each other for possession of the basketball.  Finally, Brad ripped it loose and shot a lay-up.

            “Two points!”  A smiling Jeremy cheered Brad’s score.

            These best friends played on the neighborhood playground.  Neither truly cared who won the game because each of them wants the other to be the best.

            Wouldn’t life be so fun if all of us felt this way?  Instead of flaunting our own athletic prowess, intelligence, or beauty, we’d all cheer for other’s victories. 

            That picture looks like people with egos like Jesus.

            Ego [E-go] is one’s self-image.  Who we think of ourselves is wrapped up in our individual personality and character.  The opening Scripture snaps what the world would look like if no one fed their individual egos with sky-high self-worth.  No one is “all that!”  No one is the center of the universe.   

            Except… 

            Philippians 2:6-8 shows Jesus’ ego:  “Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, “REALLY?”

            “but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  “No Way!”

            “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”  

                                     

Take Home Nugget

            “Ugh!  I don’t want to be that!” you exclaim.

            Philippians 2:9-11 shows the Father’s pride in His Son, who truly IS “all that”.  Jesus is truly in the center of the universe:  “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name,

            “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

            “and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

            If anyone can taunt others and flaunt himself, it must be no other than Jesus!  Check the lesson linked below to see where Jesus went.

Holy Father, Forgive my feeding my own ego with self-praise.  Empower me to be humble, with an ego like Your Son, Jesus.  Amen.

Adapted from “If Egos Went Missing” by Jason Nelson.  April 18, 2018.   www.TimeOfGrace.org.  Your Daily Grace Moment

And

“Jesus Reigns” by Mrs. Anne Gonzalez.  May10, 2018.  Portals of Prayer devotional magazine.  Missouri. 

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Egos Like 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