Jun. 15, 2008
Walking As Jesus Did
I really love the Bible curriculum we use, "Bible Study for All Ages." The application can allow you to search as deeply as you can. We are studying about the descendants of Adam and Eve. Last week was about Cain and Abel. We discussed mastering sin. This week the application is walking with God. Enoch is the example; "he walked with God and was no more."
The curriculum didn't bring in I John 1:5-7 and I John 2:3-6. These verses have always been important to me. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." I John 1:5-7. You could just keep reading to gain the full context.
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." I John 2:3-5.
We discussed how we could walk as Jesus did. The boys came up we these things:
1) Serve others- by touching them physically and emotionally, giving of ourselves.
2) Know God's Word- meditating on it and studying it daily, being capable of quoting scripture.
3) Prayer- having a personal friendship with God. We discussed the different ways in which we could commune with God. The daily prayers, spontaneous words of confession, praise, and/or petition.
4) Teaching others- Jesus taught as he lived daily life. He used parables and nature.
5) Obedience to God's Will- Jesus was obedient to God's will even when he had to do something he didn't want to do. The human side of Jesus didn't want to die on the cross. He would have gladly bore our sins in some other way if it was possible, but he was submissive to God's will.
We discussed that walking with God required a daily commitment to remain faithful and obedient to God. Each morning it requires us to wake up and pray, "Father, I commit myself to you today. I want to walk hand in hand with you. Please help me remain obedient to you and to walk as Jesus did. Let me see each opportunity to serve your children and shine your light in the darkness."
DH and I explained that by committing each day to the Lord would help them to stay close to Jesus side and prevent them from one day looking up and saying, "How did I get here? I've wondered so far from home." J brought up the Prodigal Son and how he chose to leave his father for the "better life." "Which isn't a better life at all. It may look good but it's just all shiny and empty," to quote J's commentary.
DH likened the boys' faith to this: It's like Mommy and Daddy's faith is an oak tree and we give them each an acorn by sharing our faith and nurturing it. We give them an acorn, they have to plant and tend it in order for it to grow. We can share our faith and encourage them, but they have to make the personal decision to nurture and develop their own personal faith.
We spent time this evening singing songs of prayer and praise to our Lord. This is one of my favorite family times. It must be all of ours because we tend to continue until the boys are exhausted and/or we lose our voices. One song we sang tonight has the chorus:
The curriculum didn't bring in I John 1:5-7 and I John 2:3-6. These verses have always been important to me. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." I John 1:5-7. You could just keep reading to gain the full context.
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." I John 2:3-5.
We discussed how we could walk as Jesus did. The boys came up we these things:
1) Serve others- by touching them physically and emotionally, giving of ourselves.
2) Know God's Word- meditating on it and studying it daily, being capable of quoting scripture.
3) Prayer- having a personal friendship with God. We discussed the different ways in which we could commune with God. The daily prayers, spontaneous words of confession, praise, and/or petition.
4) Teaching others- Jesus taught as he lived daily life. He used parables and nature.
5) Obedience to God's Will- Jesus was obedient to God's will even when he had to do something he didn't want to do. The human side of Jesus didn't want to die on the cross. He would have gladly bore our sins in some other way if it was possible, but he was submissive to God's will.
We discussed that walking with God required a daily commitment to remain faithful and obedient to God. Each morning it requires us to wake up and pray, "Father, I commit myself to you today. I want to walk hand in hand with you. Please help me remain obedient to you and to walk as Jesus did. Let me see each opportunity to serve your children and shine your light in the darkness."
DH and I explained that by committing each day to the Lord would help them to stay close to Jesus side and prevent them from one day looking up and saying, "How did I get here? I've wondered so far from home." J brought up the Prodigal Son and how he chose to leave his father for the "better life." "Which isn't a better life at all. It may look good but it's just all shiny and empty," to quote J's commentary.
DH likened the boys' faith to this: It's like Mommy and Daddy's faith is an oak tree and we give them each an acorn by sharing our faith and nurturing it. We give them an acorn, they have to plant and tend it in order for it to grow. We can share our faith and encourage them, but they have to make the personal decision to nurture and develop their own personal faith.
We spent time this evening singing songs of prayer and praise to our Lord. This is one of my favorite family times. It must be all of ours because we tend to continue until the boys are exhausted and/or we lose our voices. One song we sang tonight has the chorus:
The greatest friend you'll ever find is on a lonely mountain,
And the highest high you'll ever reach is when you kneel to pray,
And the brightest light you'll ever see is when you close your eyes.
Oh, Lord you are my first love, at last I realize.
And the highest high you'll ever reach is when you kneel to pray,
And the brightest light you'll ever see is when you close your eyes.
Oh, Lord you are my first love, at last I realize.
It took my singing the chorus 3 times for J to understand what it meant. Then I could see in his eyes how significant and special the message was. The best experience you can ever have is when you are in prayer with our Lord.
It is good for my soul to be able to share my faith with my children. They understand what God wills for their life and see them growing every day.
It is good for my soul to be able to share my faith with my children. They understand what God wills for their life and see them growing every day.