Puzzle Me This – Today’s Youth Devotion

Puzzle Me This

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:32-5:2

Be kind and compassionate to one another.   Ephesians 4:32, NIV

GOD GAVE A lot of commands. Everybody knows God told the Israelites, “Do not make idols of any kind” (Exodus 20:4). And most people know that Jesus said, “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other” (John 13:34). But some commands are less familiar—like the one we’re talking about today.

Answer the questions below, printing the letters in the blanks to form the words that are missing in each sentence. Then copy the letters in the numbered spaces below to spell out one of God’s commands:

1. The Jordan River runs between the Dead Sea and the ___ ___ ___ of Galilee.
1. The Jordan River runs between the Dead Sea and the   8   15  7

2. Jesus told the story of the Good ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
2. Jesus told the story of the Good  9     5                           14        12

3. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___‘s father gave him a coat of many colors.
3.         4          2    6

4. God warned ___ ___ ___ ___ of a flood and told him to build an ark.
4. God warned        11

5. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ killed Goliath with a sling and a rock.
5.       13        10

6. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ had a dream of a ladder stretching between heaven and earth.
6.               3          1

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
>1   2          3    4    5    6    7    8    9   10  11  12 13  14  15

So how’d you do? If you need help, consult the following Bible verses: (1) John 21:1; (2) Luke 10:25-37; (3) Genesis 37:3; (4) Genesis 6:13-14; (5) 1 Samuel 17:48-49; (6) Genesis 28:10-12.

Today’s Bible reading is one of the many instances in which God gives this command to us. He repeated it many times in his Word because he wants us to remember it—and because he wants us to obey it.

REFLECT: Was the answer to the puzzle above a surprise to you? Why or why not? Did you already know God commanded us to be compassionate to others? Have you obeyed this command today? If so, how? Have you disobeyed this command today? If so, how? What can you do today or tomorrow to show compassion for someone?

PRAY: “Father, you command me to be compassionate toward others. that’s not always easy, but help me to obey you anyway and to be kind and compassionate every day.”