Reading for today: Genesis 22:15-24 and Matthew 27:27-56

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”  Matthew 27:51

This curtain is 18 inches thick; it separated men from God.  It separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple.  The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant, where God came down to visit man.  Once a year a priest would be allowed to go in and offer the sacrifice.  In this moment God Himself rips the curtain from top to bottom!  It means that man is free to be near God anytime and anywhere!  So don’t be afraid to go before God.  He wants to be near us; do we want to be near Him?

Written by: Dylan & Micha ~ 4th & 6th Grades

Reading for today: Genesis 22:11-14, Matthew 27: 1-26

“Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Matthew 27:5

Judas traded his relationship and love of Jesus Christ our Lord for a worldly thing: money.  After he realized what a horrible, deceptive thing he did, he hung himself out of remorse.  This can happen to us in everyday life.  We exchange our love of God for things of this world, but we don’t have to let our remorse destroy us!  We can repent and ask for forgiveness because of what Jesus Christ did for us.

Written by: Rebecca & Jacob ~ 2nd & 6th Grades

Reading for today: Genesis 22:9-10, Matthew 26:57-75

“And Peter went out and wept bitterly…” Matthew 26:75

Jesus came speaking the truth about who He was and the religious leaders hated the truth.  They wanted to kill Jesus so the people would keep praising them instead of Jesus.  Peter loved Jesus, but fear of the rulers made him deny Jesus three times.  The rulers had a wicked heart, but Peter had a very sorry heart.  When we sin, it should bother us as much as it bothered Peter, and we should confess our sin to Jesus as Peter did and not want to do it anymore.

Written by: Brittany ~ 6th Grade

Reading for today:  Genesis 22:4-8, Matthew 26:36-56

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation…”  Matthew 26:41

God tells us to pray all the time.  The disciples who were with Jesus did not do this and so they fell asleep.  Jesus still loved them; and Jesus loves you, too.  Because we are sinners, we all deserve punishment in Hell.  God sent His Son down to die on the cross to free us from this burden.  He wants you to trust Him for your salvation, so don’t forget to pray to God for forgiveness and guidance.

Written by: Rebecca & Ian ~ 2nd & 5th Grades

Reading for today: Genesis 22:2-3, Matthew 26:17-35

Matthew 26:17-35 (Focus)

Jesus wanted to tell His friends that He was going to die.  Jesus wanted to spend a special holiday called The Passover with them that happened in the Old Testament.  One of His disciples was going to betray Him.  Peter who was Jesus’ disciple said that he would not run away like the others would.  Jesus gave them special gifts of bread and wine so that His disciples would remember Him when He dies.  Jesus died to forgive people who sinned.  Jesus is our Savior.

Written by: Michael ~ 2nd Grade

Reading for today: Genesis 22:1-2, Matthew 26:1-16

“Take now your son, your only son Isaac…” Genesis 22:2

God asks Abraham to do something which is painful for both him and Isaac. Abraham demonstrates that not even this son, for which he had waited so many years, was more important than obedience to what God told him to do. Is there anything in our lives that we would not lay down for God? Is it a son, a daughter, or something else to which you are holding tightly - and it’s painful to consider letting go? Just like Abraham, we are to bring it to the altar, and watch God provide for Himself in the matter.

Reading for today: Genesis 21:22-34, Matthew 25:31-46

“You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” Genesis 21:30

Interesting… Abraham digs the well, and has ownership of it, but gives Abimelech 7 ewe lambs. Over and over you see the heart of Abraham to give, even when he did not have to. God blessed Abraham with wealth, but he was not one to horde, or whittle-down the cost so he could keep as much as possible. He sees the blessings from God as a blessing to and for others.

Reading for today: Genesis 21:15-21, Matthew 25:14-30

“And the water in the skin was used up…” Genesis 21:15

We can relate to this so many times in our lives. In this case, God demonstrates how much He loves our children. When Hagar had taken her son Ishmael as far as she could in her own strength, and had given the child up to die, God heard the voice of the boy and reassured Hagar that he would live. “Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water” (Genesis 21:19). For those who have children it is such an assurance to know that God hears from them – and responds! As parents we too must “close our eyes” and lift our voices to the Lord, so that it may be “well” with our children.

Reading for today: Genesis 21:8-14, Matthew 25:1-13

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour… Matthew 25:13

The promise of the return of our Lord Jesus, is one of the biggest hopes (truths) we have as believers. Just like Abraham and Sarah, the promise of His coming is as if it is already happening. We need to be certain of this, because this will cause us to watch and wait. Just like waiting for our young kids to get off the school bus, we should have a joyful expectation filling our lives in anticipation of His return.

Reading for today: Genesis 21:1-7, Matthew 24:44-51

“And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.” Genesis 21:1

God made the promise to Sarah and Abraham that they would have a child. The promises of God are not like the promises of men, who have to strive to fulfill them. When Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, God said to him then “for I have made you a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:6). This is spoken as if it were true at a time when Abraham had no children. In our walk of faith we have to hold on to the promises of God, for they are already true!