SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “Rules To Live By”

*DAILY BREAD: A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries Department

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Monday, November 1, 2021

Topic: Rules to live by

_The man answered, “That was a good answer, Teacher. You were right when you said these things. God is the only Lord, and there is no other God besides him. One must love God with all his heart, all his mind, and all his strength. And one must love his neighbor as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God. Mark 12:32, ICB_

As children, we all enjoy playing game. I especially enjoy getting together with family or friends and playing games. Sometimes we play card games or board games. This is one of the games I like to play. But Before we play, we always explain the rules so everyone will know how to play the game.
So it is in the game of life. There are rules we must follow.These rules are contained in the rulebook – the BIBLE.

To really enjoy life the way God intended, it is important to follow His rules in the Bible.
During Jesus’ time on earth, religious leaders liked to sit around and discuss the law. They would sometimes ask Jesus questions about the law to try to trick Him into saying something that would cause people to turn against Him. One day, they were questioning Jesus, and He answered them with one good answer right after another. One Jewish teacher asked Him, “Of all of the commandments, which is the most important?”
Jesus answered him, “The most important one is this, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “

There are a lot of rules in this book. It may sometimes be difficult to remember all of them. If we can just remember to obey the two commandments that Jesus said were the most important, all of the rest would follow. Then we would enjoy life the way God intended it.

*Song*
Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the Ancient words impart.
Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e’er we roam
*Refrain*
Ancient words will guide us Home.
Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

*Prayer*
Dear God, please help us to love You with all our hearts and to love others as we love ourselves in Jesus’ name, Amen