James Merritt - 52 Weeks with Jesus for Kids: A Devotional

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover by Design by Julia, Woodland Park, Colorado

Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.

52 WEEKS WITH JESUS FOR KIDS

Copyright 2016 James Merritt

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-6697-9 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-6698-6 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Merritt, James Gregory, 1952- author.

Title: 52 weeks with Jesus for kids / James Merritt.

Other titles: Fifty two weeks with Jesus for kids

Description: Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016013349 (print) | LCCN 2016031238 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736966979 (pbk.) | ISBN 9780736966986 ()

Subjects: LCSH: Christian childrenPrayers and devotionsJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC BV4870 .M44 2016 (print) | LCC BV4870 (ebook) | DDC 242/.62dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016013349

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This book is dedicated to Pops four best buddies

Harper, Casady, Presley, and Connor.

May you always walk with Jesus.

Contents

A re you ready to learn about Jesus and grow in your faith? In this book, youll find 52 devotions all about Jesus and you. You can read one devotion a weekmaybe on Sunday evenings, or whenever you likeand learn a ton about Jesus in a year. (Remember, a year has 52 weeks.) Or you can read the book at a quicker pace. Its totally up to you!

You might also want to get together with some friends to read the book. It would be fun to go through it with your Sunday school class, small group, or Bible club if youre involved in one of those. Another great option is to grab a pen and notebook so you can journal as you read. Once again, its totally up to you!

No matter what you choose, enjoy your time discovering Jesus and learning how He wants to help you live your best life every single day.

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

I f youre like a lot of people, your favorite holiday is Christmas. Theres so much to love about that season, especially celebrating the birth of Jesus with family and friends.

On December 25, we remember that day thousands of years ago when Jesus was born. And while every childs birth is a very special event, the birth of Jesus was not your typical birth. People had been looking forward to it for more than four thousand years. Thats a long time to be expecting a baby!

Have you ever made a family tree? A family tree lists your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents, and all your relatives as far back as you can find them. The very beginning of the New Testament lists the names of everyone in Jesuss family tree. Way back at the beginning of time, God made a promise that He would one day send a king who would be the Savior of the world.

God doesnt do anything randomly. He always had a plan and a purpose for Jesus, and He always has a plan and a purpose for us.

If youve accepted Jesus into your heart, youre also a part of Gods family. Jesuss family tree is your family tree! No matter who your family is and no matter how much of your family tree you can draw, God is happy to welcome you into His family. Youre an important branch on His tree, and He has an amazing plan for your life.

Being a part of the family of God is so awesome that we dont have to wait until December 25 to celebrate. We can celebrate being a part of His family every day of the year!

Jesus, thank You that I am part of Your family and that I can celebrate You every day of the year!

Take This with You

Gods family tree is the best place to be.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.

Ephesians 2:4-5

Y ou might think someone as amazing as Jesus would have come from a line of rich and famous people who totally followed God and never did anything wrong, but thats actually not true at all. Some of the people in Jesuss family tree were poor. Others were thought of as different or strange. Some were big-time sinners. You can even add wicked kings to the bunch. The truth is, Jesus came from a long line of misfits!

Your family doesnt have a lot of money? No problem! Jesus Himself was born in a stable, the son of a carpenter, not a prince who was born in a palace. Youre not the most popular person in your class? Thats just fine! Jesus wasnt very popular with His own people. Your best friend isnt speaking to you? Not to worry! Jesus knew what it was like to have a best friend turn on Him.

Want to know something really crazy? Jesus was a misfit. Totally telling the truth here! No, He didnt sin. But He did His own thing. He didnt act the way people expected Him to act. He didnt hang out with the people others expected Him to hang out with. He may not have even looked the way people expected Him to look. The people were expecting a powerful king, not some carpenter-turned-teacher who was leading around a sketchy group of followers. You might even call Him the misfit Messiah.

Thats good news for us! You can be exactly who you are, and God will love you. You dont have to look perfect. You dont have to act perfect. You dont have to be perfect at all. You just have to believe that Jesuswho was perfectwas the Son of God and that He died for your sins (your imperfections). Thats all that matters to Him!