A hot button issue in our society is, you guessed it, politics. It matters who we elect into office to represent us. And yet, anyone we vote for will still be flawed individuals, just like you and me. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, one thing is for certain: God is still in charge. God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing Creator of everything. If you are excited about the elected officials in office, God is sovereign. If you feel disappointed or discouraged by those in office, God is sovereign. God ultimately appoints all those in authority (Romans 13:1) and their hearts are like streams of water in His hands (Proverbs 21:1). We are still called to seek the welfare of our city and to pray for it (Jeremiah 29:7), but at the same time, we fear the Lord and remember that He is our perfect authority. We need not feel anxious about the future because we know it’s all under His control.
FEAR: Having the right view of God's perfect authority, justice, and 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: Having the right view of God means understanding His perfect authority
The authority that God placed over David’s life was not an easy one to respect. It’s kind of hard to follow a king when he’s out to kill you. Twice, while he was running from King Saul, David had an opportunity to end his hardships by ending Saul and taking the kingdom for himself. After all, God had already chosen David to be the next king, right? But even in the midst of hardship and trying to live under a leader that was not following God, David chose to fear the Lord more than his circumstances. Even when everyone around him was telling him it was ok to kill Saul, David knew that God had chosen Saul to be king and that God was in complete control. God’s plan doesn’t always look like we want it to and we may even have leaders like Saul in our lives. However, when we fear the Lord and understand He is our perfect authority, we can trust in His good plan and know that our lives are always under His control.
Family Questions:
- Read 1 Samuel 24. Do you think God made a mistake by making Saul king? Why or why not?
- Who are some authorities God has placed in your life? Who is their ultimate authority?
- Was there ever a time in David’s life that God was not in control? Why do you think that? What about your life? When is it hard for you to fear God and trust He is the perfect authority?
- How does it make you feel hearing that God is always the one in control no matter what’s happening around you? How does that help you fear Him instead of your circumstances? (Note: Sometimes hearing that God is in control can bring up questions like, “Then why do bad things happen?” This is a question God is big enough to answer! There is plenty of scripture to address how we live in a fallen world that God will one day completely redeem after Christ returns a second time. Take a look at this helpful article that helps answer the question why bad things happen and how we can take heart, even still.)
* Check out our vision for parents and how to use these activities each week.
Teacher: Meal Time
It is important for your family to have a right view of authority and what it means! At the dinner table this week, ask everyone how they would define authority. A good definition is: the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. Then ask your family who are people in their lives that have authority. Also answer for yourself, listing off the people who have authority in your life. After talking about authorities in your lives, read Romans 13:1 and discuss how every authority in your life has been put there by God because He is the ultimate authority!
Friend: Drive Time
As you are driving in the car with your family, have them look out the windows and call out the things they see that only God could make. Things like: trees, birds, dogs, water, and people. Discuss how all of those things prove that God is powerful and in control. God has given people the ability to build and create amazing things, but we still cannot build or create life. That is only something God can do, and that is a way we can be assured that God is the one in ultimate authority.
Counselor: Bedtime
As you are getting your family ready for bed, spend time praying for the people who are in authority. Be sure to pray for the people in our government, teachers, policemen, and judges. Encourage your kids to keep praying for all of their authority figures and for God to help them know Him!
Coach: Anytime
Get a new puzzle and take out some of the pieces. Give your family the rest of the pieces but don’t let them see the picture on the front of the puzzle box or know they’re missing pieces. Try to put the puzzle together. Is it easy to know where the pieces go if you can’t see the big picture or don’t have all the pieces? Who is the only one who knows all and can see how all the pieces fit together? God has perfect authority and knows the “why” behind everything that happens!
Prayer
Thank God for having final authority over everything that happens in your life. Thank Him for seeing the big picture when you cannot and for knowing the “Why” behind all of your questions. Ask God to allow you to have the right view of His perfect authority.
Looking Ahead
Next week we will continue in our trait, Fear!