Fun, Easy Family Devotions: Verse 1 | Devotion 1 – Romans 5:8 & 6:23

John Majors

Devotion

He was the most wanted man in the country. He had escaped prison, snuck on a train, and was now wandering the countryside in search of a place to hide and find help. The local government made it the highest priority to find him. He was a dangerous criminal on the loose. Signs were posted: “Wanted, dead or alive.” Was there a safe house to be found? After days of hiding out, with very little rest, food, or water, he was at the end of his rope. He sat down and prayed long and earnestly about what to do. He decided to walk to the nearest house, knock, and accept whatever fate fell before him. If they were friendly, it likely meant rescue. If foe; then death. He lifted a heavy foot up the front steps, then another. A set of sweaty knuckles rasped against the door. It was the middle of the night. Would anyone respond? A few moments later he heard someone stirring. “What do you want?” “I’m in need of help.” Silence. Then more stirring. The door pulled open, he was invited inside. He sat at a table and then the man laid a gun down between them. “I think you better tell me the real reason you are here.”

“I am Winston Churchill. I was taken as a prisoner of war and have escaped. Will you help me?”

Winston Churchill would eventually become one of the most famous men in the world after leading Great Britain through World War II as Prime Minister. But now he was a young British officer and a war correspondent serving in South Africa. He was taken captive during a battle and was able to escape, but knew that re-capture meant certain death. He had laid his cards on the table, how would the man respond?

The man stood with gun in hand, walked over, reached toward Winston, shook his hand, and said, “Thank God you knocked on my door. It’s the only house for twenty miles where you would not have been handed over.” Winston, though in enemy territory, and in their eyes deserving of death, found life through the hand of a friend.

Romans 6:23 says, “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We deserve death as a result of our rebellion and sin that separates us from God, but Jesus came to rescue us from this sin. He did this by giving up his own life. By dying for us. “God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). 

Question

This man risked his life to save Winston in a hostile country. When was a time someone showed you kindness when you needed it and least expected it?

Prayer

Dear Jesus, we give you thanks for caring for us and rescuing us when we didn’t deserve such love.  Thank you for the gift of eternal life. Please help us to trust you and to look to you to find our ultimate hope and purpose in life. Help us also to extend that same kindness to others, even those whom we might think deserve our wrath.

Song Video

Hand Motion Video

16 Responses to “Fun, Easy Family Devotions: Verse 1 | Devotion 1 – Romans 5:8 & 6:23”

    Lydia Slusher says: January 28, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    My three your old and I LOVE your hand motion videos! I SO love how it’s hiding scripture in his heart and that when we are working on memorizing verse he can’t help but sing the tune to the words he’s reciting! Keep up the wonderful work!

    I love your new song based on Romans 5:8 and 6:23 as well!

    My only question is how to determine which DVDs to get – what is the difference between the family ones vs. church class ones?

    Thanks again for your ministry!
    Lydia

      Thanks for the awesome encouragement!

      The church DVD’s and downloads come with all the individual files and a groups viewing license for group use. The home videos are to be used for personal use and come with just the “play all” and “play all with hand motions”. I hope this helps!

    Can you give me the list of the 20 verses? This is such a good idea. Thanks!

    Would love this for our church!

    David Williams says: March 20, 2020 at 8:18 am

    Will you also upload the songs with the hand motions, when available, in these devotions?

    Thank you for the time you take to serve our Great and Might God! We love the resources. Thank you!!

    Cynthia Williams Wesley says: April 7, 2020 at 7:03 am

    This video and devotion was awesome! Thank you for sending it.

    Chrisha Dilley says: April 15, 2020 at 11:02 am

    Hi guys!
    Thank you for all you’re doing in helping us make disciples of our little ones. I was wondering if someone could make cute printable PDF’s of the verses to hang up so we can review and sing throughout the day and not just when we watch the video or stream the song. I am abysmal at making cute PDF’s (I’ve tried but I just don’t know the tools like some other folks out there.) Otherwise I would be offering to do this. I hoping someone in the talented and artistic seeds family has a knack!
    Thank you for considering!
    Grace and Peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ,
    Chrisha

    Tiffany Adams says: May 3, 2020 at 10:12 pm

    Thank you so very much for your generosity and time you have taken in doing this for the body of Christ! I am a children’s church leader and I have purchased ALL your sets! Our kids and adults love them!!! Keep up the amazing work you’re doing! Also our homeschool group has incorporated your music and memory cards each month as well!! You are truly talented and making a way for God’s words to be easily memorized!
    Thank you & God Bless
    Tiffany Adams

    Hi.
    May I have the list of the 20 scriptures?

    Thank you,
    Patti Steele

    I started to do family devotion two nights ago. and this was are first lesson on the second night. my boys (3,5,6yrs. old) love the song and had listen and sang twice after the devotion. I am super excited to do this as my family devotional. Maybe they will listen something great. I wish they more hands on than just reading. I like the reading but they get so distracted but I guess we will try this out. just pray they don’t get to bored. thanks again.

    if you have any ideas for family devotional or hand-on activities for little ones please let know. thanks

    Can we purchase sheet music for the songs? I found the chord charts, videos, devotionals, but we have youth who want to perform on the piano and read the vocal line. Thanks! I love the music and all the extras you have provided.

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John Majors

John Majors and his wife Julie have a passion to help parents intentionally disciple their children. They served with FamilyLife for twenty years. They now partner with Seeds Family Worship to create tools and resources for parents to use at the table. They seek to invest in marriages and families internationally, specifically in countries in the South Pacific (their family spent 6 months of 2018 in Fiji). The Majors see the family table as the place where faith, food, and family intersect to create the ideal environment for growth. The Majors and their three children live in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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