What do these things have in common: fire, medicine, scissors, and electricity? They are all good things that can help us BUT they are not safe if we don’t use them correctly. Each of them can be unsafe and also good at the same time. God is like that too. God is always good and we can trust Him no matter what. He is also the almighty Creator of the universe who will bring justice and defeat His enemies. Sometimes He asks us to do things that might seem scary. When He does we can remember that He always loves us, is always in control, and will always win in the end. That’s what fearing the Lord is all about. It’s not about being scared of God but having the right view of who He is, no matter what’s going on around us.
FEAR: Having the Right View of God's Perfect Authority, Justice, & Grace
MEMORY VERSE: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul." DEUTERONOMY 10:12 (NLT)
This Week’s Finish Line: Fear Begins By Believing God is Not Safe But He is Good
God’s people, the Israelites, had a problem. Their enemies, the Philistines, had come to fight them but they had a secret weapon. Their mightiest warrior was a giant named Goliath. Everyday Goliath came out to make fun of the Israelites and their God because he did not fear the Lord. The Israelites were scared because they had forgotten that God had chosen them as His special people and would fight for them. God called a young man named David to stand up to this giant. Now David could be killed by Goliath and the whole Israelite army could become slaves of the Philistines if he failed. There was nothing special about David except that He knew who God was. David feared the Lord and knew that God was not safe but He was always good. God showed His goodness, might and power by allowing David to kill the giant and giving the Israelites victory over the Philistines.
Family Questions:
- Read 1 Samuel 17. What was not safe about the situation God put David in?
- How did Goliath and Saul have the wrong view of God? What did David know was true about God?
- How did God show that He was good? Do you believe God is good? Why or why not?
- How would you describe “fear of the Lord” to someone? How is it different than being afraid?
Bring it Home Conversations & Activities:
* Check out our vision for parents and how to use these activities each week.
Teacher: Should We Fear God?
As you are sitting at the dinner table with your family, pull out your Bible and read Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Then ask your kids what they think it means to FEAR God. Also ask them why they think the Bible says to fear God. After giving them time to answer teach and explain to them that fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe. Here is a link to a helpful web page that clearly explains this!
Friend: Good But Not Safe!
This week's finish line is: Fear begins by believing that God is not safe but He is good! We want kids to know that God is bigger, stronger and more powerful than they can imagine and that He loves them more than they can understand. So take time this week to have a scavenger hunt with your kids in your home. Have them look for things that are good but not safe. Examples: Stove top, cleaning chemicals, lighters or scissors. After they found a handful of things stop the game and have them explain how the things they have found are good but not safe. Then point back to how God also is VERY good but that He is not safe, and explain how fear for God is a healthy thing.
Counselor: Bedtime Verses
As you are putting your family to bed, read Romans 8:38-39 to them. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” After reading these verses to them have a conversation about how we can have full confidence that God is always good and always loving.
Coach: Memory Verse
As you are getting your family ready for the day, work on the memory verse together. One of the greatest things you can do for your children is plant God’s word in their hearts. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He Requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that Pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.” DEUTERONOMY 10:12 (NLT)
Prayer
Thank God for being good in all circumstances. Thank Him for His justice, grace and authority. Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you so you have a better view of who He truly is.
Looking Ahead
Next week we will continue the month of November with the Godly characteristic of FEAR. We will learn that having the right view of God means understanding His perfect authority.
Subscribe here to start getting our monthly email to stay in the know with everything going on with Watermark Kids!
Image via Creative Commons