Obedience is one of those words that never sounds like fun. It feels like an obligation, like something we have to do but doesn’t seem very fun. We often doubt the motives of those asking us to obey, or we think that our way would surely be better. Jesus set the ultimate example for how we should live, and as we study His life obedience sticks out most of all. He had full authority over heaven and earth (Colossians 1:16), yet He fully submitted to the Father’s authority and fully obeyed God in everything.
This week we studied the way Jesus lived His life in full obedience to the Father. We looked at several verses in John when Jesus mentioned His obedience: John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 8:26, 10:18, 12:49-50, 14:30-31, and 15:10. All of these verses have one thing in common: Jesus trusted and obeyed his Father in everything He did. Nothing Jesus did was outside of God’s will. Later we looked at Philippians 2:5-11, which is a passage explaining what this obedience meant for Jesus on a practical level. Jesus “became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8b).
At dinner this week, ask your kids if they can think of other people in the Bible who obeyed God besides Jesus. How many can you think of? Was it hard for any of them? Did any of them obey but not right away or all the way? How did that turn out for them?
While driving in the car this week, talk about the traffic laws. Ask your kids how many they can think of even while you’re driving. What would happen if everyone ignored stop signs or red lights? Why is it important to obey these laws all the way, right away?
During bedtime this week, have an open conversation with your child about how you are each doing with obedience. For you as a parent, tell your child who you have to obey each day. (Bosses, laws, taxes, etc.) Often kids think when they are adults they won’t have to obey anyone. Give examples from the day of when obedience was easy or hard for you. Ask your child how he/she thinks they are doing with obeying too.
In the mornings this week, practice this month’s memory verse together! (John 14:21) Write it down on index cards and hang it up on the mirrors around the house. Practice it as you eat breakfast and as you drive to school. Who can memorize it first?
Thank God for seeing the whole story of your life even though you cannot. Ask Him to help you trust Him when you cannot understand why He’s allowing you to walk through hard times.
Next week we continue studying obedience, and we will look at Exodus 20.