Family Devotion for the first week of Lent

Happy Ash Wednesday everyone. Okay I really thought about how to say that. Ash Wednesday isn't really about "happy," but personally I always am happy to start the Lenten season as it brings my family together to study the life of Christ and prepare for Easter - so that is happy, right? Below is the devotion for this week.

I still have a few sets of the bracelet and banner set, if you would like one. A few people thought I was selling them, but I am just giving them to you if you would like one. So let me know.

Note: You will need paper and pens/pencils for today's devotion.

Introduction: The Christmas tree and decorations may have been put away for a while now, but the story of Jesus' birth is something to celebrate and think about all year round. Before reading on, have one of the children in your family recount the story of Jesus' birth.

After the visit from the Magi, Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream, telling him to get up and move his family to Egypt for Jesus' safety. The family stayed in Egypt until after the death of Herod, and then they moved to Nazareth, where Jesus would grow up. There Jesus grew and learned like any other child, but he was far from being just an average little boy. In today's reading, we will read about Jesus' visit to the temple when he was 12 years old.

Reading: Luke 2: 41-52 Boy Jesus at the Temple

Discussion Questions:

1. Jesus replies to his worried mother, "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house." Luke 2: 49. But nobody understood what he meant. What did Jesus mean?
   
2. Verse 52 gives us our last glimpse of Jesus as a child. The next time we see Jesus, he is a grown man. Reread verse 52. Isn't it amazing to think that the perfect son of God was taking time to grow in wisdom, and statue and in favor with God and men? What does it mean to grow in each one of these areas?
   
3. Jesus gives us a wonderful example of four areas in which we can grow. We are still at the beginning of a new year. Next December wouldn't it be great to look back and say that you have followed Christ's example and grown in the same four areas? Make a list for each family member of ways that they would like to grow in the coming year. Put your list in a place where it can be seen to serve as a reminder in the coming months.
   

   
   

   Here are some examples: I would like to grow in wisdom by joining a bible study. I would like to grow in favor with men by learning to control my temper.
   

Prayer: Close your devotional time with a prayer. For example:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for this time together. We thank you for your Word and the opportunity to learn more about Jesus' life. Help us Lord, to learn to grow as Jesus did, so that with each passing day, we learn to walk more in your ways. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.