12 Days of Christmas Family DevotionalSample

READ TOGETHER

The Israelites wandered in the desert for many long years until God brought them into the Promised Land—just like he said he would! God told them that he would be their King and that he would take care of them. But do you think the people believed him and trusted him? Well, some of them tried, but just like us, no matter how hard they tried, they could never be perfect. And soon, the people started asking for a king on earth. They saw all of the other countries around them with kings and thought: “That’s what we need! A king will get us what we want!” God knew that a king would not be the solution, but he decided to let the people see for themselves.

Israel had many kings over the years. Some were good, and some were not so good. But one of those kings was very special and was called “a man after God’s own heart.” This king was King David. He was chosen to be king as a very little boy, while he was tending sheep in his father’s field! He had many brothers who were taller, stronger, and looked more like kings, but God told Samuel, a special man of God who was looking for the next king, that David was the one.

It took many years for David to grow up and finally become the King of Israel. Through those years of waiting, David trusted God and his plan. You might remember that David, with only a slingshot and a stone, was the one who defeated the giant, Goliath, who was teasing and taunting the Israelite armies! He wrote many songs to God, which we can read in the book of Psalms in the Bible. David loved God with all of his heart. Of course, that doesn’t mean that David was perfect. None of us can be. Even King David made many mistakes; some that hurt other people. But when he made mistakes, he ran to God to tell him how sorry he was, to ask for forgiveness, and to ask what to do next. 

God made a special promise to David. He promised him that even after he died, his family and kingdom would endure and would stay around forever! Of course, we know that people can’t live forever here on earth, so what was God saying? God was sharing another piece of his rescue plan. The one that he started all the way back at the very beginning in the garden. Through David’s family would come God’s very own Son, sent to rescue all of us, to reign as King forever!

TALK TOGETHER

1. What do you do when you make a mistake and hurt someone else? What does God want you to do?

2. David’s family was special to God, and yours is too. What are some ways that God has blessed your family?

PRAY TOGETHER 

Father God, you always want what is best for us. You love us more than we can even imagine! We are grateful that nothing we do can make you love us less. Help us to remember to run to you, and not away from you when we make mistakes. We love you! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.