Weekly Newsletter: Family Devotion Material for the Week of 2/13/23
Theme: Good News: Jesus Loves Children
Bible Verse: “I will be glad and rejoice in your love.” Psalm 31:7
Read the Bible: Luke 19:1-10. Read the story on pages 403-408 in God’s Story for Me Bible Storybook.
Who?
Zacchaeus, Jesus
What?
When Jesus met Zacchaeus and went
to his home for dinner, Jesus taught
Zacchaeus that He is loving and forgiving
(Luke 19:1-10)
When & Where?
During the final weeks of Jesus’ life, in
the city of Jericho
Why?
To help children understand that Jesus
loves them and will help them be kind
to others
Goals:
1. Tell a way Jesus was kind and showed love to Zacchaeus
2. Demonstrate love and kindness to another child
3. Show gladness because of Jesus’ love
How does the story of Jesus’ forgiveness of Zacchaeus encourage you? How can it make a difference in the lives of the children you teach? Zacchaeus probably wasn’t religious; being the chief tax collector for the city of Jericho (and cheating its taxpayers) likely took up most of his time and kept him in a category all by himself! But when Jesus’ love surprised Zacchaeus, he was changed completely!
The power of Jesus’ surprising love picked Zacchaeus out by name. Jesus astounded the crowd as He invited Himself
to the home of the one man in town NO ONE wanted to visit!
Jesus said nothing about Zacchaeus’s sin. His loving acceptance brought such a change to Zacchaeus’s heart that repentance followed!
• When has Jesus stopped you to surprise you with His amazing love?
• What’s a way to show that same gracious love to those you know, regardless of others’ opinions?
It’s easy to feel unloved and unworthy of Jesus because of things we’ve done or things we haven’t done. But let Him stop you with His love and forgiveness! Then freely live out His loving acceptance and surprising love to everyone you know, especially the little ones you teach!
