March 20 | TOTAL OBEDIENCE

Today’s Reading:

Read Joshua 7:1; 7:10-12; 8:30-35

Start off today with a bowl of wrapped candy. As a family, count how many pieces are in the bowl and be sure you put back all of the candy that we had in the bowl at the beginning.

As everyone starts putting back the candy, the parent can hold back a couple of pieces and set them aside or put them in their pocket. Then they could ask the family–if I put most of the candy back, is that the same as putting all of it back? If we mostly obey God, is that the same as completely obeying God?

Jump back in your Bible and read Deuteronomy 12:1-6. One of the specific instructions God had given the Israelites through Moses was that they were to completely destroy any of the areas or buildings where the false worship or idolatry had happened when they moved into the Promised Land. Unfortunately, the Israelites were “unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction” (7:1).

Remember that disobedience to God’s commands is SIN and SIN separated the Israelites from God. He could not honor his covenant with them because they were disobedient and were unfaithful. Sin has consequences and the Israelites quickly learned that God was serious about keeping His commandments. Without God’s help, the Israelites were not victorious when they tried to overtake the land.

But, also remember how we’ve talked about God’s grace and forgiveness? God gave the Israelites a second chance. They followed God’s directions specifically and asked for forgiveness and God forgave them and began to help them win again. Joshua reminded the Israelites all that God has asked of them by reading the book of law that God had given Moses.

Application/Prayer:

Have you ever disobeyed? Thank God that He forgives us and that He gives us second chances.

March Memory Verse:

He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Matthew 4:4

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.