In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul gives... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:13

In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul gives instructions to his co-worker Timothy for his ministry to believers. Let’s apply what he says today to our daily family devotion.

It begins with the public reading of the Word of God. The chosen Bible passage should correspond to the age of the children. Especially suitable are the gospels, which describe the Lord Jesus and His merciful works. But stories from the Old Testament that are easily understood by children can also work well. When reading the Bible, we all expose ourselves to the effects of the Word of God. We are convicted, corrected, encouraged and redirected to the Lord.

Exhortation involves applying the Word to our lives. For example, when reading about Joseph refusing to sin (Genesis 39:7–18), we can make it clear to our children that they too must say no to sin when tempted. Or when reading the story of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21–35), a reference to the willingness to forgive may be appropriate.

Teaching is explaining the Word of God. Perhaps the children ask a question because they haven’t understood something. It’s good if we can give them a simple answer. Sometimes it’s helpful to show them the context or explain a biblical term more closely.

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 28:1-17 · Romans 3:21-31