October 26 | The First will Be Last and the Last will be First

Today’s Reading:

Read Matthew 20; Mark 10:32-52; Luke 18:31-19:27

Play a game where you give your family an opportunity to call out the opposite of something. For instance, if you yell out “ON”, someone will yell out “OFF.” Spend a few minutes brainstorming as many opposites as you can. (Here are some examples to start with: up; right; north; awake)

Jesus’ teachings sounded opposite of what the people were expecting to hear. The Jewish people were expecting that the Messiah would come in with authority that would be stronger than the government. They were waiting for a King to come in as royalty. Jesus’ ministry was actually the exact opposite of that. And, as Jesus taught, He continually pointed out that He came to serve and not to be served. He taught that the last would be first and the first would be last. Jesus taught that “whoever want(ed) to be great among you, must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26) That teaching was very different than what the people were expecting.

As Jesus taught, He demonstrated that serving was important. He also tried to prepare his followers for the truth that ultimately the way He would serve them was to be crucified for their sins and then raised from the dead on the third day. (Matthew 20:19)

Application/Prayer:

Is there someone you can serve today? Challenge your family members to find one person who they can serve in the next week. Talk about how serving others means putting their needs above our own. Ask God to help you serve with a willing heart.

October Memory Verse:

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”

Psalm 56:3

Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:

Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.