God’s New Creation: A World of Joy

Sunday, November 10th: Isaiah 65:17-25

Bible Verse:

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

— Isaiah 65:17 (EHV)

Devotion:

Imagine a place so beautiful and perfect that you can’t even remember the bad things that used to happen! That’s what God promises to make for us—a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no sadness or pain, only peace and happiness. Isaiah shares this wonderful promise from God, reminding us that one day everything will be made new.

When things are hard or scary, we can think about this promise and remember that God has something amazing planned for us. He will make everything right, and we will live with Him forever in this new world. It’s exciting to know that we can look forward to a future full of peace, joy, and love!

Questions to think about:

1. What do you think the new heaven and new earth will look like?

2. How can thinking about God’s promise help you when you feel sad or scared?

3. How can you show others the hope and joy of God’s promise?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Help me to remember Your promise when I feel sad or worried, and to share Your hope with others. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of what you think the new heaven and the new earth will look like.

Full Bible Reference:

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. ‘Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,’ says the Lord.”

— Isaiah 65:17-25 (EHV)

The River of Life: Eternal Joy with God

Saturday, November 9th: Revelation 22:1-5

Bible Verse:

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.”

— Revelation 22:3 (EHV)

Devotion:

In this passage, John describes a beautiful picture of the new heaven and the new earth. He talks about a river of life, trees that heal, and a city where God and Jesus will live with us forever. There will be no more curse, and we will live in perfect peace with God.

This is such a hopeful picture of what is to come. Even though the world we live in now is full of struggles, pain, and sin, we have the promise that one day, everything will be made new. We will get to live with God in a place of peace, joy, and life forever.

Questions to think about:

1. What do you think the river of life in this passage might look like?

2. How does it make you feel to know that you will live with God forever?

3. How can you live in a way that shows you are thankful for God’s promise?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for the promise of eternal life with You. Help me to live in a way that shows my love and thankfulness for You. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of the river of life and the tree of life, as described in this passage.

Full Bible Reference:

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

— Revelation 22:1-5 (EHV)

God’s Peaceful Creation: A New Beginning

Friday, November 8th: Isaiah 65:17-25

Bible Verse:

“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food.”

— Isaiah 65:25 (EHV)

Devotion:

Isaiah gives us a beautiful picture of what the world will be like when God makes everything new. He describes a peaceful world where even animals that used to be enemies, like wolves and lambs, will live together peacefully. This is a sign of how God will bring peace and harmony to all of His creation.

We can look forward to this time when God will make everything right. It’s a reminder that no matter how much trouble there is in the world today, God is in control, and He is working to bring about peace. Until then, we can do our part by showing kindness, love, and peace to those around us.

Questions to think about:

1. What does this passage say about peace in God’s new creation?

2. How can we show peace and kindness to others right now?

3. What are some ways you can help make the world a more peaceful place?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for the promise of peace in Your new creation. Help me to share Your peace and love with everyone I meet. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of animals living together in peace, just like in Isaiah’s vision.

Full Bible Reference:

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. ‘Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,’ says the Lord.”

— Isaiah 65:17-25 (EHV)

Faithful Heroes: Trusting God’s Plan

Thursday, November 7th: Hebrews 11:32-40

Bible Verse:

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us.”

— Hebrews 11:39-40 (EHV)

Devotion:

In this passage, we hear about many people who had great faith in God. Even though they faced hard times and didn’t always see God’s promises come true right away, they kept trusting in Him. They believed that God had something even better planned for them, just like He does for us.

Sometimes, we have to wait for good things to happen, or we might not understand why certain things are happening in our lives. But we can trust that God has a plan for us, and it’s even better than we can imagine! Just like the people in the Bible, we can have faith that God will always keep His promises.

Questions to think about:

1. Why did the people in this passage keep trusting God, even when things were hard?

2. How can you trust God when you have to wait for something?

3. What are some of the promises God has made to us?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for always keeping Your promises. Help me to trust in You, even when I don’t understand what’s happening. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of someone trusting in God, even when things are hard.

Full Bible Reference:

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

— Hebrews 11:32-40 (EHV)

A Promise of Heaven: No More Tears

Wednesday, November 6th: Revelation 21:1-6

Bible Verse:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

— Revelation 21:4 (EHV)

Devotion:

This verse from Revelation gives us a wonderful promise about heaven. It tells us that one day, all the sad things in this world will be gone. There will be no more crying, no more pain, and no more death. God will make everything new, and He will be with us forever.

Sometimes, life can be hard, and we might feel sad or scared. But God promises that one day, all the bad things will disappear, and we will live with Him in a place full of joy and peace. This is a beautiful reminder that we can trust in God’s promise and look forward to a future where everything is made right.

Questions to think about:

1. What do you think heaven will be like based on this verse?

2. How does it make you feel to know that there will be no more sadness or pain in heaven?

3. How can you share God’s love and hope with others who might be feeling sad?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for the promise of heaven, where there will be no more pain or sadness. Help me to share Your love and hope with others. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of what you think heaven might look like, full of joy and peace.

Full Bible Reference:

“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.’”

— Revelation 21:1-6 (EHV)

Zacchaeus: Seen and Saved by Jesus

Tuesday, November 5th: Luke 19:1-10

Bible Verse:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

— Luke 19:10 (EHV)

Devotion:

In this story, we meet a man named Zacchaeus. He wasn’t very tall, so he climbed up into a tree to see Jesus as He passed by. Zacchaeus had made some bad choices in his life, and many people didn’t like him because he was a tax collector who had cheated them. But Jesus saw Zacchaeus, even up in the tree, and called him by name. Jesus wanted to visit Zacchaeus’s house and spend time with him!

Zacchaeus was so happy that he promised to make things right and give back the money he had taken unfairly. Jesus showed Zacchaeus love and forgiveness, and it changed Zacchaeus’s heart. Just like Zacchaeus, Jesus loves and seeks out each one of us. He wants to be with us and help us grow closer to God.

Questions to think about:

1. Why do you think Zacchaeus climbed the tree to see Jesus?

2. How did Jesus show Zacchaeus love and forgiveness?

3. What can you do to show Jesus that you love Him too?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for seeking me out and loving me, just like You did with Zacchaeus. Help me to always listen to You and do what is right. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of Zacchaeus in the tree, looking down at Jesus, who is calling his name.

Full Bible Reference:

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

— Luke 19:1-10 (EHV)

God’s Love: A Gift We Don’t Deserve

Monday, November 4th: Romans 5:6-11

Bible Verse:

“But God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

— Romans 5:8 (EHV)

Devotion:

God’s love for us is so big that He sent Jesus to die for us, even when we didn’t deserve it. This verse reminds us that we didn’t have to be perfect or do anything special to earn God’s love. He loved us so much that Jesus died for us so we could be forgiven and live forever with Him.

Imagine if someone gave you the best gift ever, even though you didn’t do anything to earn it. That’s what God’s love is like—He gives us the gift of eternal life through Jesus. Every day, we can be thankful that Jesus loves us no matter what, and we don’t have to earn His love. It’s a free gift!

Questions to think about:

1. How does it make you feel to know that God loves you no matter what?

2. What does it mean to receive a free gift from God through Jesus?

3. How can we thank God for His amazing love?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me and dying for me, even when I didn’t deserve it. Help me to remember Your love every day and to live in a way that shows how thankful I am. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of a gift to represent God’s love, with a heart inside the gift box.

Full Bible Reference:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

— Romans 5:6-11 (EHV)

God’s Mercy: Forgiven and Loved

Sunday, November 3rd: Micah 7:18-20

Bible Verse:

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”

— Micah 7:18 (EHV)

Devotion:

God is amazing! Even though we make mistakes and sometimes disobey Him, He forgives us because He loves us so much. The prophet Micah reminds us that there is no one like God—He is full of mercy and loves to forgive us. God knows that we aren’t perfect, but He sent Jesus to be perfect for us. Because of Jesus, we can be sure that God will always forgive us when we ask Him.

Think about how it feels when someone forgives you after you’ve done something wrong. It makes you feel better, doesn’t it? That’s what God’s mercy is like. He doesn’t hold onto anger. Instead, He is always ready to welcome us back with open arms. Isn’t that wonderful?

Questions to think about:

1. How does it feel to know that God forgives us no matter what?

2. What is something you can ask God for forgiveness for today?

3. Why is it important to show mercy and forgive others, just like God forgives us?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for always forgiving me and showing me mercy. Help me to remember Your love and to share it by forgiving others. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of God’s arms wide open, showing His love and forgiveness.

Full Bible Reference:

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.”

— Micah 7:18-20 (EHV)

Translating the Bible

Saturday, November 2

Bible Verse:

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. ‘Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.’”

— Proverbs 30:5-9 (EHV)

Devotion:

After standing up for God’s Word at the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther had to hide for a while to stay safe. But he didn’t waste any time! While he was hiding in a castle called Wartburg, Martin worked on one of the most important jobs of his life—translating the Bible into German. Before this, most people couldn’t understand the Bible because it was written in Latin. That meant only priests and scholars could read it. Martin wanted everyone to be able to read God’s Word for themselves, so he spent many months carefully translating the Bible into a language that ordinary people could understand.

This was a big deal because now people didn’t have to rely on others to tell them what the Bible said—they could read it for themselves! Martin’s work helped spread the truth of God’s Word to many people. Today, we are blessed to have the Bible in so many different languages so that people all over the world can read and understand it. Like Martin Luther, we should always be thankful for God’s Word and make it a special part of our daily lives. The Bible is a shield that protects us and helps us know God better.

Questions to think about:

1. Why did Martin Luther translate the Bible into German?

2. How do you think it would feel if you couldn’t read the Bible in your own language?

3. Why is it important for everyone to be able to read the Bible?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for giving us Your Word. Help me to love reading the Bible and to learn more about You every day. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of Martin Luther working on translating the Bible.

The Diet of Worms

Friday, November 1

Bible Verse:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: ‘Go through the camp and tell the people, “Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.”’”

— Joshua 1:9-11 (EHV)

Devotion:

When Martin Luther stood up for God’s Word, not everyone was happy about it. In 1521, he was called to a big meeting called the Diet of Worms (don’t worry, it’s not about eating worms!). The leaders of the church and government wanted Martin to take back what he said about the Bible. They told him that if he didn’t, he could get in big trouble. But Martin knew that God’s Word was true, and he couldn’t change his mind. Even though he was scared, Martin trusted God to be with him and give him the courage he needed.

At the Diet of Worms, Martin stood before powerful people and said, “Here I stand, I can do no other.” He meant that he couldn’t go against what the Bible said, even if it was dangerous. Just like Martin, sometimes we have to stand up for what is right, even when it’s hard. But we can remember that God is always with us, and He will give us the courage to do the right thing. Martin trusted God, and God gave him the strength to keep standing firm, no matter what.

Questions to think about:

1. Why did Martin Luther have to go to the Diet of Worms?

2. How did Martin Luther show courage by standing up for God’s Word?

3. When is a time you needed to be brave and trust God?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for being with me, even when I’m scared. Help me to trust You like Martin Luther did, and to stand up for what is right. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of Martin Luther standing bravely at the Diet of Worms.