Day 1
Faith Fact:
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Who does God love?
Read:
John 3:16–18
We live in a world where people may judge one another based on the country they are from, their background, gender, age, or appearance. Those things may lead us to label people as unimportant, dirty, dishonest, etc. Labels can be a barrier to us loving people we see as different from us. But the Bible tells us that God has shown love to everyone no matter the labels people may give them. He showed that love through sending His Son—Jesus.
God created people “in the beginning.” Today we represent different countries and cultures. He still wants a relationship with each and every one of us. That’s what Jesus was saying about God’s love in the verses above.
Think about it:
Question 1. How does John 3:16 say God showed His love to us?
Answer 1. He sent His Son. (John 3:16)
Question 2. Does the place you’re from or the color of your skin change God’s love for you?
Answer 2. No, our labels don’t change God’s love.
Question 3. Why did God send His Son to the world?
Answer 3. God wanted to save the world. (John 3:17)
Question 4. What is waiting for everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus?
Answer 4. Eternal life (John 3:16)
Question 5. Who is God’s Son that He sent to save us?
Answer 5. Jesus
Talk about It:
•What did you learn about God’s love from today’s devotion?
•Have you ever loved someone less because of the labels someone put on them? Why?
•Do you think God wants us to love everyone like He does?
Pray about it:
God, thank You for showing us how great Your love is and how You love everyone. Help me to look beyond the labels and love others as You do. Amen.
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Who does God love?
Read:
John 3:16–18
We live in a world where people may judge one another based on the country they are from, their background, gender, age, or appearance. Those things may lead us to label people as unimportant, dirty, dishonest, etc. Labels can be a barrier to us loving people we see as different from us. But the Bible tells us that God has shown love to everyone no matter the labels people may give them. He showed that love through sending His Son—Jesus.
God created people “in the beginning.” Today we represent different countries and cultures. He still wants a relationship with each and every one of us. That’s what Jesus was saying about God’s love in the verses above.
Think about it:
Question 1. How does John 3:16 say God showed His love to us?
Answer 1. He sent His Son. (John 3:16)
Question 2. Does the place you’re from or the color of your skin change God’s love for you?
Answer 2. No, our labels don’t change God’s love.
Question 3. Why did God send His Son to the world?
Answer 3. God wanted to save the world. (John 3:17)
Question 4. What is waiting for everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus?
Answer 4. Eternal life (John 3:16)
Question 5. Who is God’s Son that He sent to save us?
Answer 5. Jesus
Talk about It:
•What did you learn about God’s love from today’s devotion?
•Have you ever loved someone less because of the labels someone put on them? Why?
•Do you think God wants us to love everyone like He does?
Pray about it:
God, thank You for showing us how great Your love is and how You love everyone. Help me to look beyond the labels and love others as You do. Amen.
Day 2
Faith Fact:
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Does God show love to bad people?
Read:
Romans 5:6–8, 11
Since the very first humans, people have made bad choices and sinned against God. Sin is when we know the right thing that God wants us to do, and we choose not to do it. The Bible says that everyone has sinned, and that means we’ve all done bad things. And even though we deserve punishment for our sins, God is patient and gives us time to change our ways and follow Him.
God showed His love for us, even though we sinned, by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. There is no greater form of love than to willingly give up your life for someone else. That is exactly what Jesus did. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to give His life to pay for our sins. Even though people do things that are bad and sinful, God showed them love anyway.
Think about it:
Question 1. What kind of people did Jesus Christ die for?
Answer 1. He gave His life for sinners. (Romans 5:6)
Question 2. Who does the Bible say has sinned?
Answer 2. Everyone has sinned.
Question 3. How did God show His love for us?
Answer 3. He sent Jesus to die for us. (Romans 5:8)
Question 4. When did God show that love to us?
Answer 4. When we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)
Question 5. What kind of relationship with God can we have because of Jesus?
Answer 5. We can be God’s friends. (Romans 5:11)
Talk about It:
•Have you ever been hurt by someone and wanted them to be punished right away? Why?
•Have you ever been the one who hurt someone else and was given mercy by not being punished? How did that feel?
•Since God is patient with us, should we be patient with others?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for being patient with me. I know I make bad choices sometimes, but You love me no matter what. I don’t deserve it, but I am so thankful for Your love. Amen.
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Does God show love to bad people?
Read:
Romans 5:6–8, 11
Since the very first humans, people have made bad choices and sinned against God. Sin is when we know the right thing that God wants us to do, and we choose not to do it. The Bible says that everyone has sinned, and that means we’ve all done bad things. And even though we deserve punishment for our sins, God is patient and gives us time to change our ways and follow Him.
God showed His love for us, even though we sinned, by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. There is no greater form of love than to willingly give up your life for someone else. That is exactly what Jesus did. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to give His life to pay for our sins. Even though people do things that are bad and sinful, God showed them love anyway.
Think about it:
Question 1. What kind of people did Jesus Christ die for?
Answer 1. He gave His life for sinners. (Romans 5:6)
Question 2. Who does the Bible say has sinned?
Answer 2. Everyone has sinned.
Question 3. How did God show His love for us?
Answer 3. He sent Jesus to die for us. (Romans 5:8)
Question 4. When did God show that love to us?
Answer 4. When we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)
Question 5. What kind of relationship with God can we have because of Jesus?
Answer 5. We can be God’s friends. (Romans 5:11)
Talk about It:
•Have you ever been hurt by someone and wanted them to be punished right away? Why?
•Have you ever been the one who hurt someone else and was given mercy by not being punished? How did that feel?
•Since God is patient with us, should we be patient with others?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for being patient with me. I know I make bad choices sometimes, but You love me no matter what. I don’t deserve it, but I am so thankful for Your love. Amen.
Day 3
Faith Fact:
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
How can I receive God's loving forgiveness?
Read:
1 John 1:8–10
The Bible tells us that God showed His love by offering forgiveness to everyone through Jesus. But many people reject God and never accept His love. These people won’t admit the truth that they keep sinning against Him. This is sad, because it’s not hard to begin accepting God’s love.
The best place to start a relationship with God is by admitting that you’ve done wrong. That is called confessing. When you tell Him the truth about your sin, He starts to wash that dirty sin away. It’s like a car wash for your heart! You can’t wash the dirt off a car if it’s hidden where the water can’t hit it. That is sort of how your sin is when you won’t confess it. But when you are honest and bring your sin to God, He shows you love by forgiving the sin and washing your heart to be clean.
Think about it:
Question 1. Who has God offered His forgiveness to?
Answer 1. Everyone
Question 2. Who does 1 John 1:8 say is not telling the truth?
Answer 2. Anyone who says they have no sin (1 John 1:8)
Question 3. What do we need to do to receive God’s forgiveness?
Answer 3. We must confess our sins to Him. (1 John 1:9)
Question 4. What does it mean to confess to God?
Answer 4. It means that we admit our sins to Him.
Question 5. What happens to us after we confess to God?
Answer 5. He cleans all our sin, or wickedness, away. (1 John 1:9)
Talk about It:
•What do you need to do to accept God’s forgiveness?
•If receiving God’s love is so easy, why do you think some people refuse?
•Who should tell others about God’s love and forgiveness?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for loving me and desiring a relationship with me. Thank You, Jesus, for dying for me and coming back to life. Forgive me for my sins and make me a new person. I want to obey and continue in the love of God forever. Amen.
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
How can I receive God's loving forgiveness?
Read:
1 John 1:8–10
The Bible tells us that God showed His love by offering forgiveness to everyone through Jesus. But many people reject God and never accept His love. These people won’t admit the truth that they keep sinning against Him. This is sad, because it’s not hard to begin accepting God’s love.
The best place to start a relationship with God is by admitting that you’ve done wrong. That is called confessing. When you tell Him the truth about your sin, He starts to wash that dirty sin away. It’s like a car wash for your heart! You can’t wash the dirt off a car if it’s hidden where the water can’t hit it. That is sort of how your sin is when you won’t confess it. But when you are honest and bring your sin to God, He shows you love by forgiving the sin and washing your heart to be clean.
Think about it:
Question 1. Who has God offered His forgiveness to?
Answer 1. Everyone
Question 2. Who does 1 John 1:8 say is not telling the truth?
Answer 2. Anyone who says they have no sin (1 John 1:8)
Question 3. What do we need to do to receive God’s forgiveness?
Answer 3. We must confess our sins to Him. (1 John 1:9)
Question 4. What does it mean to confess to God?
Answer 4. It means that we admit our sins to Him.
Question 5. What happens to us after we confess to God?
Answer 5. He cleans all our sin, or wickedness, away. (1 John 1:9)
Talk about It:
•What do you need to do to accept God’s forgiveness?
•If receiving God’s love is so easy, why do you think some people refuse?
•Who should tell others about God’s love and forgiveness?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for loving me and desiring a relationship with me. Thank You, Jesus, for dying for me and coming back to life. Forgive me for my sins and make me a new person. I want to obey and continue in the love of God forever. Amen.
Day 4
Faith Fact:
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Who should I love?
Read:
Matthew 22:34–40
When Jesus was asked which rules in the Bible were the most important, He didn’t answer with things such as “Don’t kill” or “Don’t steal” or “Don’t lie.” He answered with two simple rules that He said summed up the whole message of Scripture: Love God and love people.
Jesus didn’t give any conditions or exceptions. He didn’t say, “Love others if they love you” or “Love those who treat you kindly.” He simply tells us to love everyone, in all circumstances. He taught us that the love we show would be the evidence of our commitment to Him and to one another as followers of Jesus.
Think about it:
Question 1. Why did the expert in the Law ask Jesus this hard question?
Answer 1. He was trying to trap, or trick, Jesus. (Matthew 22:35)
Question 2. What did Jesus say was the greatest commandment?
Answer 2. Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. (Matthew 22:37–38)
Question 3. What other commandment did Jesus say was equally important?
Answer 3. Love your neighbor, which means to love everyone you come into contact with. (Matthew 22:39)
Question 4. How much should you love your neighbor?
Answer 4. You should love them as much as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:39)
Question 5. What did Jesus say was based on these two commandments?
Answer 5. All of the Law and all of the prophets, or in other words, all the Old Testament (Matthew 22:40)
Talk about It:
•Are there people in your life who are difficult to love?
•How can you show love to others in the same way that God has shown love to you?
•What are some ways you can show love to God through your heart, soul, or mind?
Pray about It:
God, I am so thankful for the way You love me. I don’t deserve Your love, yet You still give it. Help me to love others the same way that You love so I can be an example to them. Thank You for helping me learn to love. Amen.
God loves everyone.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Who should I love?
Read:
Matthew 22:34–40
When Jesus was asked which rules in the Bible were the most important, He didn’t answer with things such as “Don’t kill” or “Don’t steal” or “Don’t lie.” He answered with two simple rules that He said summed up the whole message of Scripture: Love God and love people.
Jesus didn’t give any conditions or exceptions. He didn’t say, “Love others if they love you” or “Love those who treat you kindly.” He simply tells us to love everyone, in all circumstances. He taught us that the love we show would be the evidence of our commitment to Him and to one another as followers of Jesus.
Think about it:
Question 1. Why did the expert in the Law ask Jesus this hard question?
Answer 1. He was trying to trap, or trick, Jesus. (Matthew 22:35)
Question 2. What did Jesus say was the greatest commandment?
Answer 2. Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. (Matthew 22:37–38)
Question 3. What other commandment did Jesus say was equally important?
Answer 3. Love your neighbor, which means to love everyone you come into contact with. (Matthew 22:39)
Question 4. How much should you love your neighbor?
Answer 4. You should love them as much as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:39)
Question 5. What did Jesus say was based on these two commandments?
Answer 5. All of the Law and all of the prophets, or in other words, all the Old Testament (Matthew 22:40)
Talk about It:
•Are there people in your life who are difficult to love?
•How can you show love to others in the same way that God has shown love to you?
•What are some ways you can show love to God through your heart, soul, or mind?
Pray about It:
God, I am so thankful for the way You love me. I don’t deserve Your love, yet You still give it. Help me to love others the same way that You love so I can be an example to them. Thank You for helping me learn to love. Amen.