In Isaiah 30:15 the Lord says to Israel, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” It should be so easy. We want salvation and strength, but so often, we will not have any of the repentance, rest and trust that are required to get them. We would rather make our own way and trust in our own plan than believe that God’s plans are better than our own. This pattern is always a mistake. Use the activities below this week to teach your kids (and yourself) how good God’s plans are, that His way is the best way, and how we all need to listen and obey.
HIGHLIGHTS from the Weekend…
This week your child learned that Israel wanted a king. The Israelites asked Samuel for a king, but Samuel told the Israelites they would be sorry if they had a king. The Lord was their King. Samuel told them a king would take their sons and daughters and their land. Even though God had always taken care of them, the Israelites didn’t trust God’s plan. They wanted to do things their own way. They wanted a king! The Lord assured Samuel it was not him they were rejecting, it was the Lord. God told Samuel to give them a king so with the Lord’s direction, Samuel anointed Saul and said he would be the leader of the Israelites. For a time, Saul was a good, obedient king. However, when Saul disobeyed the Lord, God rejected him as king. (1 Samuel 8‐11 & 15)
Teaching Truths:
- God's way is the best way.
Memory Verse:
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
3 Activities that Help Us Learn This Week's Teaching Truth:
1. K is for King
On a piece of construction paper help your child write a large K. Let your child decorate the “K” by adding a crown at the top and eyes, nose, mouth and a mustache to turn the K into a king.Talk about how Israel wanted a king and how God wants to be our King.
As your child decorates his “K”, ask these questions:
- Did the Israelites trust God?
- Did God give them what they wanted?
- What happened when the Israelites didn’t listen and obey God?
2. God's Way Game
This game is played like Red Light/Green Light. Have your child line up at one end of the room while you stand at the other end. When you say something that shows God’s way, have your child take 3 steps or hops forward.
Examples:
- You share a cookie with a friend.
- You practice your memory verse.
- Noah obeyed God and built the ark.
- You pick up your toys when your mom tells you to.
- You eat all the cookies before your friend gets one.
3. God's Way Chart
Create a simple chart to hang in your house, perhaps in the kitchen or in your child’s bedroom where he can see it. Grab some crayons or stickers and let him decorate it however he wants. Throughout the day or week, whenever your child chooses God’s way, let him put a sticker on the chart. Once the chart is full, give him a special treat for choosing God’s way.
Pray
Pray a short, simple prayer thanking God that His way is the best way.