God's Beloved Community: A 5-Day Reading Plan for KidsSample

Day Two: Right from the Start

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” —John 1:1, niv

Before the beginning, God was three-in-one,

not floating all lonesome in space.

God was Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

beloved community already in place.

Devotion

Did you know that beloved community existed even before the world began? The Bible tells us that God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit formed the perfect, most beloved community right from the start. Now God wants us to join that community, so that it can be even more wonderful! When we want a hug or enjoy playing a game with a friend or have fun laughing with another person, we are reflecting who God created us to be. God made us for relationship with each other because he made us in his image; he made us to reflect his beloved community. Even when we fight with someone (does that ever happen to you?), we can remember that God’s love is bigger than our fights. The more we love each other, the more we show the world what God is like.

Prayer

Dear God,

Wow! You were a beloved community before the earth, or people, or animals even existed! Thank you for loving us so much that you want us to enjoy relationships as much as you do. Thank you for creating me to love others!

Amen.

Activity

Glue together three popsicle sticks or three strips of paper (you might need a grown-up’s help for this activity) into a triangle shape. Write Father on one, Jesus on another, and Holy Spirit on the third—or draw pictures of how you imagine God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit loving one another. Tie a string to your craft and hang it up where you can see it every day. Remember that loving each other was God’s idea right from the start!