Family Devotional: 1/12/25-1/18/25

The New City Catechism

Question #18

Q. Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?

A. No, God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them both in this life, and in the life to come.

(To encourage memorization through song: https://youtu.be/jA8FNuyX6nQ?si=E2QnGKNpGnDC5rEY)

BIG Idea

“God will judge and punish all those who sin against him.” 

Because God is holy, righteous, and just, he must punish sinners. To not do so would be a violation of his perfect character! This is bad and terrifying news for humanity, for all of us have sinned against God and fall short of his glory (Romans 3:23). We, desperately, need a Savior who can redeem us from our helpless state. The glory of the gospel is that God himself has provided salvation in and through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As the God-Man, Jesus lived the life we could never live, perfectly obedient to the law of God, without idol or sin. Further, he, willingly, died the death we all deserve, bearing the judgement of the cross that should have fallen upon us for our idolatry and sinfulness. To show that what Jesus did was sufficient in securing the redemption of sinners, God raised him from the dead! The only thing that he requires of you to escape the wrath which is to come is to believe on the Lord Jesus! Would you not do so?

Weekly Bible Passage and Monthly Memory Verse

Passage: Ephesians 5:5-14

Monthly Memory Verse: “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Prayer (ACTS Method)

These are ways to pray in light of the truth learned this week. Of course, pray for other things as a family!

·      Adoration: Adore God for His perfect justice.

·      Confession: Confess that we deserve judgement because of our sin!

·      Thanksgiving: Thank God that He has provided a way of escape through the Gospel of His Son.

·      Supplication: Ask God for grace to walk in light of the redemption we have in Christ.