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Exodus 12:3
Exodus 12:12
Leviticus 23:5
Numbers 9:1-3
Deuteronomy 16:1
2 Kings 22
2 Kings 23
Matthew 26:2
Mark 14:1, 2
1 Corinthians 11:23-24
WISE - being able to make a good decision, knowing what is important and what is not
DECISION - act or process of making a choice
WISDOM - having the ability to make a good decision based on what is important
REPENT - to say you are sorry and stop doing that action
COMMEMORATE - to honor the memory of with a ceremony
"I wish I were a king," Shawn grumbled. “Then I wouldn't have to go to bed right now." Shawn was eight years old. He was older than his baby brother. But not old enough to stay up late with the adults. And tonight he really wanted to. He just knew he was missing something. But his mom had told him it was bedtime. So he was going to bed. But he didn't like it.
As Shawn pulled on his pajamas, he thought about what else he could do if he were king. He could wear the clothes he wanted to wear. He could eat what he wanted to eat. He would have the toys he always wanted to play with. He would get to decide what games he’d play. Oh, it would be so much fun to be king!
Shawn was so excited about the idea. He brushed his teeth and climbed into bed, still thinking about being king. Then his mom came up to tuck him into bed. Shawn told her, “You know, if I were king, I would not have to got o bed right now. I could stay up and hear what you are talking about tonight."
Shawn's mom sat on the bed. "Being king is not about you. It is not so you can get everything you want," she said. "It is about being a leader for a country. You have to make wise decisions for many people. A bad king thinks it is all about him. He only lives for himself. He thinks the people should all serve him. In Bible times, some kings were bad. But there were some good kings in the Bible too. King David was a good king.
"Even today, some countries have a king. A good king cares about the people. He wants to make the people happy. He tries to make good decisions. He knows that his decisions can make life better for the people. But he can also make a bad decision and make life worse for the people. How do you think he knows how to make a good decision?”
"He had to listen to his parents when he was little?" Shawn grumbled.
His mom laughed. She knew he still did not like the idea of going to bed. "Yes. He had to listen to his parents. But where do you think his wisdom came from?”
Shawn thought for a moment. "From God?”
"Yes," his mom agreed. "The best kings went to God and asked for His help in being king.
"So if I were king, I would still have to eat food that was good for me and still have to got o bed at the right time?"
"If you were a good and wise king, you'd want to do the right things, Shawn's mom agreed. "Sometimes that means eating what is good for you even if you don't like it. And sometimes you have to do things you do not like because it is the right thing to do. But sometimes you get to do something that is wonderful because it is the right thing to do. That's what happened when Josiah was made king when he was eight years old."
Josiah's father, Amon, was a bad king. He did not follow God's ways. He did not rule very long. Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh, was one of the worst kings Judah ever had. He built altars to false gods. He led the country away from worshiping God. He was evil. He ruled for a long time and the people didn't worship God the right way.
When Josiah became king, the Temple of God was falling apart. So he ordered that the Temple be repaired. When the workers started fixing the Temple, they found the Book of the Law. They took it to Josiah and read it to him. Josiah knew that the book they found was very important. He also knew that the whole country had sinned against God. Josiah went to God and repented.
Josiah tore down the altars his father and grandfather built. He got rid of the worship of false gods. He told the people to worship God the way He should be worshiped. He told them, "Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, a sit is written in this Book of the Covenant" (2 Kings 23:21).
Do you know what happened?"Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed” (2 Kings 23:22). The people had a Passover more joyful and wonderful than any since before King Saul and King David.
"Josiah did a wonderful thing when he was eight years old. He made a wise choice to serve God. He wanted to do things God's way. So he told the people to celebrate the Passover. We are to remember that God freed the Israelites from being Egyptian slaves. When the people celebrated God's Passover, it was wonderful," his mom said. "The people obeyed God and remembered what God had done for Israel. So God blessed them with a wonderful celebration. Today we celebrate the Passover and remember that Christ died to set us free from our sins. We make a promise each Passover to obey God. Celebrating the Passover is very important. You know, whether you are a king or not, you have to decide if you will celebrate the Passover. You have to do what is right and good. And one of the wise decisions you will make is celebrating God's Passover."
Dear Father,
Thank you that theBook of the Law was found. Thank you that King Josiah got rid of false gods and told the people to worship you and celebrate the Passover.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Exodus 12:3
Monday - Exodus 12:12
Tuesday - Leviticus 23:5
Wednesday - Numbers 9:1-3
Thursday - Matthew26:2
Friday - Mark 14:1, 2
Saturday- 1Corinthians 11:23, 24
Exodus 12:15-17
Leviticus 23:5-14
Numbers 28:17-18, 25
Numbers 33:3
Ezra 1 - 6
Ezra 6:22
John 6:35
1 Corinthians 5:7-8
DEDICATED - to set apart for a special use
SLAVERY - being the legal property of another person and forced to obey them
UNLEAVENED- without the ingredient which makes it rise and get fluffy
CELEBRATE- to have great joy as you worship God on this holy day
The car was all packed. The moving van could not hold one more thing, but that was okay. Everything was finally out of the house. Now it was time to go. Dad told everyone to get into the car. Jane and her brother and sister climbed into the car and buckled their seatbelts.Jane did not care where she sat. She just wanted to watch the house until it was out of sight. She never wanted to forget that house and what it looked like.
There was a time like that for God's people. They had been so bad that God sent their enemies against them. God's people lost the battle. But that was not a surprise. After all, they were not worshiping God. He was not protecting them from their enemies. So their enemies took them as slaves. God's people must have wondered if they would ever see Jerusalem again. They must have been like Jane, looking back for as long as they could. They wanted to always remember the land that God had given to them.
Many, many years later, King Cyrus of Persia told the people that the LORD, the God of heaven, had told him to build a temple for God at Jerusalem. So King Cyrus was ready to let the Jewish people go home—whoever wanted to go. The people who wanted to go went back to their towns. They went back to the place that God had given to them. Once they were settled, the first thing they did was to offer a sacrifice to God - even before they began to rebuild the Temple. They honored God first. They were trying hard to do what was right.
It was a huge struggle to finish building the Temple. tI took 20 years! But, finally, the people were ready to dedicate it to God. That happened at the beginning of the year. Then they were ready to celebrate the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.
The Passover was very special to them. As they sacrificed the Passover lamb, they would have thought about the Passover lamb killed in Egypt. They would have remembered how God saved His people from slavery in Egypt. Since they had been slaves in Babylon, Passover would have had very special meaning for them. God had saved them from being slaves too.
Then "for seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread..." They were so joyful because God had changed the mind of the king so that he would help them to work on the Temple. They knew this was God's hand. They knew it was God who had changed the mind of the king. They knew what God had done for them.
As God's people celebrated the Days of Unleavened Bread, they remembered how God helped them so many different times.
They thought about God bringing them out of Egypt on the First Day of Unleavened Bread so many years ago. They remembered how God gave them their land. They remembered the victories God gave them over their enemies.
But neither God's people coming out of Egypt nor those rebuilding the second Temple would have known what you know about the Days of Unleavened Bread. You know, as they did, that God brought them out of slavery and gave them victory over their enemies. But you also know that slavery is a picture for sin. You know the battle you must fight is against sin. And the good news is that God gives you the victory against sin through Jesus Christ. You knowJesus is the only way to win that war.
You eat unleavened bread for seven days. The people coming out of Egypt ate unleavened bread because they couldn't wait for the yeast to make their bread rise before they baked it. The people rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem ate unleavened bread because God told them to - so they would remember what happened as the people came out of Egypt. You eat unleavened bread for several reasons: One, God said to. Two, it reminds you that God brought His people out of slavery. Three, it reminds you that Jesus Christ gives you life. The unleavened bread is without leavening, just as Jesus Christ was without sin. He is the only way out of sin and the only way to salvation.
When Jane looked back at her house, she wanted to remember it always. But the mind does not work that way. When Jane went back many years later, the house looked much smaller. It did not look as she remembered. You cannot trust your mind to remember things. It doesn't take long to forget a little detail. And another detail. And several more. Pretty soon, you don't remember exactly what you wanted to.
We celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread each year to remember that Jesus gave His life for our sins and He is the Bread of Life. And that's something we don't ever want to forget.
Dear Father,
Thank you for giving your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. He is the Bread of Life and help me to never forget this.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Exodus 12:15
Monday - Exodus 12:16-17
Tuesday - Leviticus 23:6, 7
Wednesday - Numbers 28:17, 18
Thursday - Numbers 28:25
Friday - John 6:35
Saturday - 1Corinthians 5:7, 8
Leviticus 23:9-21
Numbers 28:26
Luke 10:2
John 4:35-36
Acts 2:1-11
1 Corinthians 15:20, 23
WAVE SHEAF OFFERING- a ceremony where the first harvested grain was waved before God
RESURRECTED- brought back to life from the dead
HARVEST- taking the crop from the ground when it is ready to be eaten
FIRSTFRUITS - the very first of the crop that is ready to eat
Jeremy loved getting ready for the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. One of the things he liked most was making a paper chain to count down the days until Pentecost. Jeremy was telling his best friend, Alex, about it one day. Alex had come over while Jeremy was making his paper chain.
“I don't get it," Alex said, shaking his head. "I thought you were celebrating the Days of Unleavened Bread. What does that have to do with Pentecost?"
Jeremy gave his friend a patient smile. "You have to start the count for Pentecost during the Days of Unleavened Bread."
"Why?" Alex asked.
"You start the count for Pentecost from the wave sheaf offering," said Jeremy.
"But why does it have to be during the Days of Unleavened Bread?" Alex asked.
Jeremy settled in to discuss this with his friend, "God commanded that the first of the grain harvest be waved before Him. The Israelites would wave this firstfruit offering before God when the barley was ripe. Then they were allowed to eat the new grain from the fields. This was about the time of the Passover. God has a plan, you know."
"Yeah?" Alex wondered where this was going.
"We know the wave sheaf for the barley harvest happened right around Passover, because that wave sheaf offering also pictures Jesus Christ going to God the Father when He was resurrected from the dead. He was the first of the firstfruits.”
"I don't get that," Alex said. "What do you mean?”
"Jesus Christ was the first person to be resurrected from the dead to eternal life," said Jeremy. “Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can also be given salvation and eternal life.”
"OK," said Alex, "but how many paper links are you going to put on that chain? Is there a special number?”
"Yes. I am putting 50 links on the chain. Leviticus 23:16 says to 'count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath.
The boys worked quietly on the paper chain for a couple minutes. "Those 50 days in between were harvest days, right?” Alex questioned.
"That's right!" Jeremy said, smiling right back at his friend. "Think about what it means to us, Alex! Jesus said the fields were ripe for the harvest. He wasn’t talking about food. He was talking about people. He told His disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. That includes us, Alex. We've got to tell others about Jesus.”
Alex said, "Oh, okay, I was wondering why I should be celebrating something that had to do with harvesting grain. I don’t even grow any grain!”
"You're right," Jeremy agreed. "This harvest is about those people who will be in God’s Kingdom at the first resurrection. We call them firstfruits. There are many people who don't know and love Jesus. They won't be among the firstfruits.”
"Let's see if l've got this right," Alex said. "Jesus was the first of the firstfruits. So those people who know and love Him at His return are the firstfruits of the harvest.”
"Yep! That was the harvest Jesus was talking about," Jeremy said. "That's why we celebrate Pentecost. And that's why l'm making a paper chain to count down to Pentecost.”
“Hey, Jeremy! I have one more question. Can I come over to your house and help you tear off the last link on Pentecost? I know I want to be part of that celebration.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us the Feast of Pentecost to celebrate and for showing us how we must count 50 days from the Wave Sheaf Offering to know when to keep it.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Leviticus 23:15, 16
Monday- Leviticus 23:17
Tuesday - Numbers 28:26
Wednesday - Acts 2:1-3
Thursday - Acts 2:4-6
Friday - Acts 2:7-11
Saturday - John 4:35-36
Leviticus 23:23-25
Leviticus 23:24
Numbers 10:10
Numbers 29:1
Zechariah 14:4
1 Corinthians 15:50-55
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Revelation 21:4
FEAST OF TRUMPETS - God’s holy day on the first day of the seventh month
CONQUER - defeat, win the war completely
SACRED - set apart to God, special
ASSEMBLY - when everyone meets together
COMMENORATED - to mark, to do as a memorial
"Soon and very soon," sang Gina. She was playing in the sandbox in her backyard. "We are going to see the King.”
Brian liked that song. He started singing with Gina on the next line.
"Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King. Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we're going to see the King.”
"Why are you singing that?" Brian asked his sister.
"Well, tomorrow is the Feast of Trumpets," Gina told him.
"Yeah. So?" Brian asked again.
"The Feast of Trumpets is all about Jesus returning," Gina said.
"But this song is talking about going to see the king," Brian said. "It's not about Jesus.”
“Oh, yes, it is,” Gina told him. “The King in the song is Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”
“How do you know?” Brian asked.
“The second verse goes: ‘No more crying there, we’re going to see the King,’” Gina said. “And the third verse is, ‘No more dying there, we’re going to see the King.’”
Brian thought for a moment. “You’re right! Maybe a king who was just a man could keep people from crying most of the time, but it would take Jesus to make sure no one ever cried again. It has to be Jesus in the third verse. Only Jesus is able to conquer death.”
"Do you know what verse talks about no more crying and no more death?" Gina asked her brother.
"Well, of course," Brian replied. "It's in the Beatitudes.”
"No, it's not, silly!" Gina said. "It's really in Revelation 21:4. God will eventually bring down the new heaven and the new earth and there will be no more crying or death.”
"But that doesn't happen on the Feast of Trumpets!" Brian said.
"No, it doesn't," Gina agreed. "But Jesus has to come back before those things can happen. And that's what the Feast of Trumpets is all about.”
"How do you know?" Brian asked.
"Let's go back to the Bible," Gina suggested.
Leviticus 23:24-25 says, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire.' "
"That's why we celebrate the Feast of Trumpets every year. God told us to," Gina said.
"But that doesn't say anything about Jesus coming back," Brian stated.
"You're right," Gina agreed. "But the trumpet blast is very important. It is sounded for something. We can read about the most important trumpet blast in 1Thessalonians 4:16-17. For the LORD himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever.”
"I can imagine that!" Brian said. "Jesus coming down from heaven, the angels gathered around watching, and the trumpet call of God. Wow!!"
"That's why I told you it was the most important trumpet blast," Gina said. "It comes directly from God.”
"I'm ready for a world where nobody has to die anymore and where there is no more crying," Brian told his sister.
"Me too," Gina said. "That's why I was singing ‘Soon and Very Soon.' All people who love God are looking forward to the day when Jesus Christ comes back. We are ready to see the King.”
"Thanks, Gina," Brian said.
"For what?" his sister asked.
"For reminding me why we celebrate the Feast ofTrumpets."
"No problem, Brian," Gina answered. The children went back to playing in the sand- and to singing. "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King. . .”
My Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us
the Feast of Trumpets to celebrate. I love it so much because it pictures your Son and my Friend coming back to this earth.
It's in Jesus' name that I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Leviticus 23:23-25
Monday - Numbers 29:1
Tuesday - Numbers 10:10
Wednesday - 1 Corinthians 15:50-52
Thursday - 1 Corinthians 15:53-55
Friday - 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
Saturday - Zechariah 14:4
Leviticus 16:1-34
Leviticus 23:26-28
Psalm 103:12
Hebrews 9:11-17
Revelation 7:14
DAY OF ATONEMENT - a holy day to remember that Jesus Christ makes us right with God the Father through His sacrifice and intercession
CLEANSE- to make clean
GROUNDED- privileges removed as a punishment for breaking family rules
FORGIVENESS - when one person accepts the apology of another, and the relationship is repaired
CONSEQUENCE- the result of an action
SACRIFICE - something you give up that costs you something
GUILTY- feelings bad because you know you did something wrong
Sara was very sorry. She shouldn't have been playing with the ball in the house. She knew she shouldn't have thrown it. But she did.
Sara went to her Mom. "Hey, Mom," Sara asked soberly, "can I talk with you for a minute?"
"Sure, honey. What's up?" her mom said.
"I did something bad and you're going to be mad at me." Sara started crying. "I broke your glass bowl!"
"Oh, Sara!" her mom groaned. "How did you manage to do that?"
"I was playing with my ball in the house. I know I'm not supposed to. But I was. Anyway, I threw it. And it hit the bowl," Sara said.
"You must have thrown it pretty hard and pretty high to hit the bowl! It was up on a special shelf!" Sara’s mom was very upset.
"I know. I did throw the ball pretty hard. I was wrong." Sara sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Mom."
"I know you're sorry," her mom told her. "But being sorry doesn't make the mistake go away. It doesn't fix the bowl."
"Can you forgive me?" Sara asked.
"Oh, Sweetheart, I forgive you," her mom said, "But I am disappointed in you.”
"I feel so guilty," Sara said.
"That's good," Mom said. "If you didn't feel guilty when you did something wrong, I'd be really worried. Guilt may help you remember when you’re tempted to throw the ball in the house. Living with guilt isn't healthy. So God made a way for His people to deal with their sins.”
"You mean by giving them His Son, Jesus Christ?" Sara asked.
"Well, yes,"her mom said. "But what I'm talking about is the Day of Atonement. On that day, the High Priest made special sacrifices because of the sin of all the people. He made a sacrifice for his own sins and to cleanse the altar. Then he took two goats. One goat was killed and its blood made atonement for the sins of the people on the mercy seat. The High Priest laid his hands on the head of the other goat and put all the sins of the people on its head - lying, stealing, not keeping the Sabbath, not obeying their parents, and other sins. Then the goat was led away into the wilderness. Can you imagine how the people felt as they watched their sins being carried away? Did you notice that the people had nothing to do with their sin being taken away? OnlyJesus' blood can cover the sins of all the people. That’s what the first goat pictures on this day. Our memory verse says our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. That’s what the second goat showed us as he was led away into the wilderness."
"Okay, Mom," Sara said, "but what can Ido to make things right with you? I want you to love me again.”
"Oh Sara," her mom said, "I may be disappointed in some choices you make, but l'll never stop loving you. The Israelites made wrong choices. They sinned. They were sorry. They were God's people. So He made a way for them to make things right with Him again. He made the same way for you and me. That's why the Day of Atonement is still important for us today. Can you see God's love in the Day of Atonement?You need to clean up all the broken glass and start saving to replace the glass bowl."
"But I thought you said I was forgiven and you love me,” Sara protested.
“I did, and I do," her mom agreed. “But love and forgiveness don't do away with consequences. Even the Israelites had consequences to their behavior - even with the sacrifices of the goats."
As Sara and her mom swept up the broken pieces of glass, Sara thought about the High Priest going before God to make things right between the people and God. She thought about the blood of one goat and the other goat carrying the sins away. As she watched the pieces of glass slide from the dust pan into the trash, she thought about how her sins were forgiven by Jesus Christ. "Jesus loves me enough to sweep away my sins just like this broken glass,” Sara thought. "When I sin, I need to go to Him. I need to tell Him what I've done, tell Him I'm sorry, and ask for His forgiveness. I know He'll forgive me just like Mom forgave me for breaking her bowl.”
"Okay." Sara sighed, "I feel better now. And nowI understand why the Day of Atonement is important for me.”
My Father in Heaven,
Thank you for the Day ofAtonement which shows me that you love me so much that you are willing to forgive me for all the bad things I do if I will say l’m sorry and repent.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Leviticus 23:26-28
Monday - Leviticus 16:1-3
Tuesday- Leviticus16:4-7
Wednesday - Leviticus 16:8-10
Thursday- Hebrews9:11, 12
Friday - Hebrews 9:13, 14
Saturday - Hebrews 9:15-17
Genesis 12 - 18
Exodus 23:16-17
Leviticus 23:33-36
Numbers 29:12
Deuteronomy 14:22-27
Deuteronomy 16:13
Isaiah 11:6-9
Zechariah 14:16-19
John 14:1-4
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
Hebrews 11:8, 13, 16
Hebrews 13:14
ALIENS - people who do not belong in a place, strangers
FEAST OF TABERNACLES - God's seven day festival in the autumn (seventh month)
Do you remember the story of Abraham? God called him and told him to leave his home. God had something special planned. So Abraham went where God said. He took his wife, Sarah, and Lot, his nephew. Abraham went where God wanted him to go. After that Abraham and Sarah lived in a tent. They did not build a house.
Abraham and Lot could not live in the same place. They each had too many animals. The land could not provide food for all the animals in one place. Abraham let Lot choose where to live. Lot chose the plain of Jordan. Abraham lived in Canaan. God told him to look. As far as Abraham could see in any direction, that was his land. God gave it to him.
It was Abraham's land. But Abraham and Sarah had no children. On a visit one day, God told Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child. Sarah laughed. Both Sarah and Abraham were old. People that old don't usually have a child. Still, God had promised many years earlier that they would have a son. And so they did. When Abraham was 100 years old, Isaac was born. God gave them what He promised.
Do you know where Abraham and Sarah lived all this time? They lived in a tent. They never built a house. They had enough money. They knew God had given them the land. They knew Isaac would have the land after they died. Still, they lived in a tent.The tent was temporary. By living in a tent, Abraham and Sarah were saying "that they were aliens and strangers on earth... they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:13, 16).
This is what the Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of each year.
Abraham and Sarah lived in a tent. Why? Because they were telling everyone down through time that this life won't last. Our bodies and this life are temporary.
Have you ever been camping? It is fun for a weekend. But after a while, it is not very comfortable. It was not comfortable for Abraham and Sarah either. It would have been so nice for Abraham and Sarah to build a house. But as soon as you build a house, you start collecting things to put in your house. If you live in a tent, you don't collect very much.
What about you? Do you have a lot more than you would have if you lived in a tent? Lots of toys. Lots of clothes. A good bed. Or do you have just a few clothes and sleep in a sleeping bag every night? There is a big difference, isn't there?
How do you think Abraham and Sarah felt? Did they willingly stay in their tent? Hebrews 11 says that if they had wanted to, they could have gone back to their old life. They could have gone back to the house where God first called them. But they chose God. They chose to live in a tent. Why? Because they trusted God. They believed God had something better for them.
God was happy with that faith. He was not ashamed to be called their God. And He has made a city for them. This city will be a wonderful place!
Do you believe that God has something better for you? In God's Kingdom, "the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie
down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child will put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain ..." (Isaiah 11:6-9).
God has a very good place planned for you too. That's one of the lessons of the Feast of Tabernacles. You should live like Abraham and Sarah did. Do not think about how much you can get. Do not collect lots of toys. Remember that toys and the things in this world are not your reward. God has something better planned for you. Trust Him. Look for Him. Do what He wants you to do.
Big house. A tent. This world. God's Kingdom. Lots of toys. God's rewards. Which will you choose? That's not a hard choice, is it? But this gives you a lot to think about during the Feast of Tabernacles! Celebrate God's holy day. Look forward to what He is promising you.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the Feast of Tabernacles. tI lasts only a short time, just like this life. When we're in your Kingdom we'll live forever and it will be a wonderful place to live.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Exodus 23:16-17
Monday - Leviticus 23:33-36
Tuesday - Deuteronomy 14:22-27
Wednesday - Numbers 29:12
Thursday -Zechariah 14:16-19
Friday - Hebrews 11:8
Saturday - 2 Corinthians 5:1-4
Leviticus 23:36
Leviticus 23:36-39
Numbers 29:35-40
Nehemiah 8:18
Jeremiah 29:11
Ezekiel 37:4
John 6:44
John 7:37-39
John 10:1-18
Romans 9 - 11
1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Revelation 20:5-15
FIRSTFRUITS - people who accepted Jesus as their Savior beforeHis return
RESURRECTION - brought back to life after dying
LAST GREAT DAY - the last holy day in a calendar year; the day after the Feast of Tabernacles
"Oh, Mom!" Emily cried, "Why did Grandma die?”
"She was old," her mom told her. "When people get old, they die. That's how this life is."
"Will I ever see her again?" Emily asked.
"Well, I believe so," her mom answered. "But, Grandma did not want to know about Jesus. She thought her life was just fine without God in it. She thought she was a good person and that was good enough.”
"She was a good person," Emily protested.
"She was," her mom agreed. "But God says that His Son is the only way to eternal life. Do you remember the story of the good shepherd?"
"Oh, you mean where the shepherd puts the sheep in the pen?" Emily asked.
"Yes," her mom said. "Who is the gate for the sheep to get into the pen?"
"It's the shepherd," Emily said. "But I don't get that. Doesn't he have a regular gate? What if he needs to go eat something or go to the bathroom? All the sheep will get out.”
"Jesus was painting a word picture for the people," her mom explained. "The sheep are God's people. The sheep pen is God's Kingdom. Jesus is the Shepherd and the gate. He’s the only way into God’s Kingdom.”
"So even though Grandma was a good person, she's not going to be in God's Kingdom?" Emily asked.
"I wouldn’t say that," her mom answered. "She won't be in the firstfruits. She did not accept Jesus as her Savior. She won't be in the first resurrection when Jesus comes back.”
"How can you be so sure?" Emily asked.
"First Corinthians 15:20-23 says that when Jesus comes back, He'll bring to life those who belong to Him," her mom answered. "Grandma never answered Jesus' call. She never decided to follow Jesus or to belong to Him.”
"But I want to see Grandma again," she cried.
"I know, Sweetheart," her mom said. "But listen: just because she's not in the first resurrection doesn't mean she won't eventually be in God's Kingdom.”
"Really?" Emily asked.
"Think about it, Emily, " her mom said, "if there's a first resurrection, there has to be a second resurrection. We believe that those who never had a chance to accept Jesus will be given a chance. They will face God and be able to choose whether they want to be His people or not.”
"Why wouldn't Grandma choose God?" Emily asked .
"God gives all of us choices to make. That's called free will," her mom answered, "but we know that God wants her to choose Him. Romans 9, 10, and 11 talk about God wanting all to be saved. We just don’t understand how He’s going to do it.”
"I don’t think I understand very much about God," Emily said.
"You know, Emily," her mom said, "God is so big and so great and so wonderful, adults do not understand very much about Him either. So God gives us His Law, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the holy days to help us learn who He is and what He wants us to do in this life.”
"What do the holy days have to do with Grandma dying?" Emily asked.
"The Last Great Day reminds us that there is a second resurrection," her mom said. "It's the time when the books are opened and people will be judged from them. It's the time people who didn't repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Savior in this life will have their chance to know Him and receive His Spirit.”
"That's what the Last Great Day is?" Emily asked. “I like knowing that. It gives me hope, knowing that I'll see Grandma again.”
"God gave us His holy days to keep to help us understand how wonderful Jesus is, to teach us His ways, and to love Him more in this life. And I love God more every time we celebrate the holy days He gave us.”
"Thanks, Mom," Emily said. "I'm glad you told me about the Last Great Day. But I still miss Grandma.”
"You're welcome, Sweetie. It's okay to miss Grandma. God understands. Why don't you talk with Him about it? Do you want me to come with you?" her mom asked.
"No," Emily replied, "I think I’ll just tell Him how much I miss Grandma and how wonderful He is for giving us the Last Great Day."
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the Last Great Day and that it gives us hope of seeing people such as Emily's Grandma again. Help me to follow you so I can be in the first resurrection.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Leviticus 23:36-39
Monday - Numbers29:35-40
Tuesday - Nehemiah 8:18
Wednesday - John 7:37-39
Thursday - John 6:44
Friday - Revelation 20:5-12
Saturday - Ezekiel 37:4
Exodus 23:13
Joshua 23:7
1 Kings 11:1-11
Ezekiel 8:13-18
John 4:23
SIGNIFICANT - very important, noteworthy
PREPARATION DAY - the day before a Sabbath or holy day, used to prepare for the Sabbath
PAGAN- having to do with worship of gods other than the one true God
CELEBRATE- to do something special to mark an event or day
"Hey, Dad," Andy asked, "why do some people celebrate Easter?" Andy and his dad were changing the oil in the lawn mower and sharpening the blade.
"Well, some people celebrate Easter because they truly believe that's when Jesus rose from the dead," Mr. Willis replied.
"Do we believe that?" Andy asked.
"No," his dad said, "and l'll tell you why. We believe that Jesus died at the end of the day on Wednesday that year, just before sunset, just before the first Day of Unleavened Bread.”
"Okay," Andy said, "and since Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights .
"Right. Let's count it out," M.r Willis said. "Wednesday night is one night. Thursday is one day.”
"Thursday night is two nights," Andy continued. "Friday is two days. Friday night is three nights. Saturday is three days." Andy held up his hands with three fingers showing on each hand. "That's three days and three nights!”
"And we end up at Saturday night,” Mr. Willis said, "not Sunday morning.”
"Okay," Andy said, "but why do some people think it was Sunday?”
His dad sighed. "There are lots of reasons. Some have been taught that, so that's what they believe. Some have never heard anything different. Some don’t know about the holy days, so they think the preparation day that Jesus died on was the day to prepare for the Sabbath, instead of the First Day of Unleavened Bread. Some are comfortable with what they do and don’t see a need to change. Some don’t think the day is important. They believe the celebration of the event is what is really significant."
"What's the deal with the Easter bunny and eggs and chocolate candies?" Andy asked.
"That's all part of the pagan stuff that goes with Easter," Mr. Willis told Andy.
"What do you mean?" Andy asked. "What does pagan mean?"
"Pagan means what was done to worship other gods ,"Mr. Willis explained. "Do you remember how God told His people not to do what the nations around them did? God didn't want them to worship Him in those ways. They were pagan.”
"What is bad about them?" Andy asked.
"It looks like fun, doesn't it?" Andy's dad smiled."That's one of the bad parts of the pagan things. Sometimes they look really good. Like Easter eggs and Easter egg hunts. That's just fun for the kids, right?”
"It does look like fun," Andy agreed.
"But Easter eggs don't come from rabbits. Easter eggs and rabbits were part of the worship of pagan gods," Mr. Willis told Andy.
"And God said not to worship Him with pagan things," Andy said.
"Because it's not true? “
"Right," his dad agreed. "Truth is very important to God. Easter isn't when Jesus rose from the dead. And Easter eggs don't come from rabbits. And rabbits and eggs don't have anything to do with worshiping God."
"So what do I tell my friends when they ask what I'm doing for Easter?" Andy asked.
"You could start by telling them that you don't celebrate Easter because you don't believe Jesus rose from the dead that morning," his dad said. "Then if they ask you more questions, you can give them more. "
"And if they aren't really interested," Andy said, "I'd just let it drop.”
"Right," Mr. Willis said, "you want to give them as much as they will think about, but you don't want to drive them away with too much information.”
"Okay. Thanks, Dad," Andy said. "I just have one more question.”
"What's that, son?" Mr. Willis asked.
"Are we ready to mow this lawn?"
"You bet!" Dad answered.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your holy days. I love to celebrate them. Thank you for showing me the truth and why I shouldn’t keep Easter.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - John 4:23
Monday - Ezekiel 8:13-18
Tuesday- Exodus 23:13
Wednesday- Joshua 23:7
Thursday- 1Kings 11:1-3
Friday- 1Kings 11:4-6
Saturday - 1Kings 11:7-11
Leviticus 18:3-5
Deuteronomy 12:29-32
2 Kings 17:15-18
Daniel 3:1-30
Matthew 22:31-32
Acts 20:32-35
Romans 13:14
2 Corinthians 4:1-4
2 Corinthians 6:14
Ephesians 6:13-17
1 Peter 2:9
1 John 3:1-5
PERMISSION - given the okay to do something
FURNACE- a place where fuel is burned to give off heat
DARKNESS- in this lesson, it means associated with evil and bad things
Kyle and his family were in a store where Halloween decorations were everywhere. Kyle asked, "Mom, why do people celebrate Halloween?"
"There are many reasons," his mom said. "Some people like the excuse to be bad."
"Some people like another reason to party," Kyle's dad told him. "They like dressing up as something crazy or silly."
"Do some people do Halloween just for the candy?" Kyle asked.
"I'm sure there are kids who like Halloween just for the candy," his mom assured him.
"What if they just like the free candy?" Kyle asked. "Is Halloween okay then?"
Kyle's parents looked at each other. Then Kyle's dad said, “Does Halloween make you think of God, or yourself?"
"Myself," Kyle answered.
"Does it honor God?" Kyle's dad asked.
"No," Kyle said, "sometimes Halloween is a day when people do really bad things.”
"Does God ask us to celebrate Halloween?" Kyle's mom asked.
"No," Kyle answered, "God gives us His holy days to teach us about Him. But Halloween doesn’t have anything to do with God and what is right."
Kyle thought about all this for a few minutes. Then he said, "What do I tell my friends at school when they want to know why I'm not staying for the class Halloween party?”
"What do you want to tell them?" his mom asked.
"I want to tell them that Halloween is bad. But I don't want to hurt their feelings. And I don't want them to make fun of me either," Kyle answered.
"Do you remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?" Kyle's dad asked. "Do you remember what they said to King Nebuchadnezzer when they didn't want to bow down to his idol?”
"Sure," Kyle answered. "They told the king they wouldn't bow down to his idol. God could save them from the king. But even if God didn't save them, they still were not going to bow down to the idol. They were going to do what was right.”
"That's right!" Kyle's dad said. "So King Nebuchadnezzer just let them go, right?”
"No," Kyle said, "Nebuchadnezzer got really angry. He heated the furnace seven times hotter. Then a guard threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace.
“I love the part of the story where Nebuchadnezzer looks into the furnace and sees four men walking around! They all should have been dead," his mom said.
"And there should have only been three," said Kyle.
"So," Kyle's dad said, "did God save the three young men?"
"Yes," Kyle said, "but they were still thrown into the furnace. That must have been awful! They must have thought they were going to die.”
"But they didn't, did they?" Kyle's dad said. "You cannot worry about what other people think of you if you are doing what is right. You have to be a light to the people around you. That happens when you quietly stand up for what is right, no matter if it means they make fun of you. Do you remember the verse in 2 Corinthians 6:14?”
Kyle answered, "Is that the one that says: 'Do not be joined to unbelievers. What do right and wrong have in common? Can light and darkness be friends?'"
"That's it," Kyle's dad said. "You don’t want to be a part of something that doesn't have God in it."
"And as for hurting their feelings, "Kyle's mom added, "you know how to be gentle with what you say. Don't say anything about them celebrating Halloween. Just tell them it's not a celebration you want to be part of."
"Then, if they want to know more," Kyle's dad said, "they'll ask."
"And I'll be ready!" Kyle answered.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You were so wonderful to take care of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace. They trusted you rather than obeying the king, and you saved them. Help me to trust you as they did as I set the right example before my friends.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - Deuteronomy 12:29-32
Monday - 2Kings 17:15-18
Tuesday - Acts 20:32-35
Wednesday - Leviticus 18:3-5
Thursday - 1 John 3:1-5
Friday - 2 Corinthians 4:1-4
Saturday - Matthew 22:31-32
Exodus 20:2-6
Exodus 20:23
Exodus 32:1-35
Deuteronomy 6:14
Deuteronomy 12:30-32
Psalm 119:30-31
Jeremiah 10:1-6
John 14:6
1 Timothy 1:6
2 Timothy 4:4
Revelation 22:18-19
CELEBRATE - to honor with special activities
WORSHIP - to show honor to, to bow down
HONOR - to treat with great respect
"I really like how pretty the evergreen trees are right now!” Joanna told her sister. It was Christmas time and the light snow on the colored balls and bright lights was pretty.
"I really like how they smell," her sister Brittany replied. "Pine is a wonderful smell. And so are the other Christmas smells - all the baked goodies.”
"Oh, you’re making me hungry!" Joanna said. "I love holiday nog.”
"God has given us the senses to see, smell, taste, hear, and touch. Since we seem to be covering all the senses," Brittany commented, "what do you like hearing at Christmas?”
"I like all the carols and hymns which praise God for His Son Jesus coming as a baby," Joanna said.
"Me too," Brittany agreed.
Brittany and Joanna's mom listened to the girls talking about Christmas.They were shopping. The sights and sounds of Christmas were all around them.
"You girls are right," their mom said. "Lots of things look good at Christmas time — the lights all over the houses, peace on earth, good will toward men. But is Christmas wonderful? Is it true? Is it right? Is it for you? There was a time when the Israelites thought they had something wonderful too. It looked good. It seemed to be lots of fun. But God was not pleased. How could something that seemed to be so good not please God? Do you remember when the Israelites came out of Egypt?”
“Yes,” the girls said together.
"Remember when Moses went up on the mountain to talk with God?" their mom asked. "What did the people do while he was gone?"
"The people thought Moses had been gone too long," Brittany started.
"So they decided to have a festival to God."Joanna added, "because God rescued them from Egypt. Then they made a gold calf and called it God."
"But what they really had was a wild party," Brittany said.
"Don't you think it was a great idea to have a celebration because God brought them out of Egypt?" their mom asked.
Brittany answered, "Sure. But they made an idol to worship. Then they said it was God!"
"That doesn't honor God," Joanna said, "and neither did their behavior. All of the nations around them heard about their wild party. God was not happy.”
"That's putting it mildly," Mrs. Davis said, "God was ready to kill them all and start over with Moses. So what does this have to do with Christmas? Can you think of any way these two things are alike?”
"Well, first of all, Jesus wasn't born on Christmas any more than that golden calf brought the Israelites out of Egypt," Joanna stated.
"You're right," Mrs. Davis agreed, “God does not lie. Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.' Jesus is truth. To worship Him with something that is a lie is not good. It is not pleasing to Him. Jesus was not born into this world on Christmas. It is the wrong day. This day was first a day to worship a pagan god. It just had God's name added to it. But adding God's name to this celebration and calling it Christmas did not make it the day Jesus was born. Adding God's name to the golden calf did not make it God.”
"But don't some people really try to worship God on Christmas?" Brittany asked.
"Sure,"Mrs. Davis replied. "Their hearts may be right. But I don't think it's the best choice. When do you think might be a better time for worshiping God, girls?”
"On God's holy days," Joanna stated, "like the Days of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles!"
"And the Sabbath!" Brittany added. "God has already given us special days to worship Him. I guess Christmas isn't for me, even though it looks good.”
"Me, either," Joanna agreed.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your holy days that I can celebrate and learn more about you and your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for showing me that I should not keep Christmas.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday - 1Timothy 1:6
Monday - 2Timothy4:4
Tuesday - Jeremiah 10:1-6
Wednesday - Revelation 22:18, 19
Thursday - Psalm 119:30, 13
Friday - Deuteronomy 12:30-32
Saturday - Exodus 20:2-6
