Abba's Goal

ABBA’S GOAL
Colossians 2:6-10
The Message vv.6-7: “My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live Him. You’re deeply rooted in Him. You’re well constructed upon Him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spillover into thanksgiving.”

“You realize that you’re my brother now?” Shakira asked Keith, with a smirk on her face.

“No way!” Keith dropped the ball—that he intended to serve for beginning their 4-Square play this recess from 3rd grade—utterly stunned.

“What?” Bethany asked. “Did you receive Jesus as your Savior, Keith?”

Greg looked at his friends, confused. “I feel like I just dropped into another planet.”

Shakira was loving this, and giggled aloud. Bethany looked from Keith to Shakira to Greg, then burst out laughing. “Say it ain’t so, guys!” She cleared her throat to explain. “Greg, if Keith accepted Jesus into his life, he’s my brother, too—my brother in Christ!”

These kids are living their faith right out in the open, and having fun with it, too. Keith’s salvation opened the door to a lifetime of growing up in his faith—something that’s called sanctification. (Sank-tif-i-KA-shon is the process that transforms God’s kids into righteous, holy people). Now Keith’s done it—he’s set apart from the rest of the world! Keith, Shakira, and Bethany are destined to be conformed into the very image of God’s Son, Jesus.

That’s Abba’s goal, kids. The reason why we were created.

Recent devotions, Sanctification, House, and Remodeling Keith were written as a preview for our watching Keith’s reactions to his new life in Christ. Now Shakira’s blown his mind by confirming their relationship as brother and sister. Bethany confirmed and further defined their connection as being one in Christ. Their transformation is day by day, from the inside outwards. This happens by the power of the Holy Spirit, dwelling inside them. He changes character, perspective, attitude, and behavior of the kids who willingly invite Jesus into their lives.

“How, or why did you do this, Keith?” Greg wondered. “What’s the deal?”

The kids will learn that surrendering to Jesus’ Lordship completes the process—and even makes it easier. Waiting to surrender to Jesus stunts their growth, until they finally give up trying to live life on their own terms.

Take Home Nugget

“I do feel like the odd ball out” Greg admitted. “What’s this about?”

“Come to Sunday school with me, Greg” Shakira invited.

Keith rolled his eyes. “I’ll make it easy for you, Greg. Just come with me this Sunday.”

Coming to Christ is transformational, which is Abba’s goal.

J.D. Griffith

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Sure Cure for Hiprocrisy

SURE CURE FOR HIPROCISY

Ephesians 2:1-10

The Message vv. 1-5: “It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose His temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with incredible love, He embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.”

“Do you want to go to Sunday school with me again, Keith?” Shakira asked. (See Remodeling Keith evotion).

A game of 4-Square during recess from their third-grade classroom had become their norm. “You didn’t hear me scream at my little sister, Shak.” Keith admitted. “I feel like such a hypocrite! No way do I want to return to where I’ll be condemned.”

“Not true, Keith. No one will condemn you at my church, or Sunday school. Even Christians mess up. We may be saved, but we’re miles away from perfection.”

Hypocrite (HIP-o-krit is a Greek word that means “play-actor.” It comforts us to know that whenever believers act terribly, we’re not being who we really are. We display something we’re not. We temporarily (tem-por-AIR-i-lee means briefly) forget whose we are. We flash a replay of how we used to be. This happens all the time in the world; but hopefully not how people typically behave in church. “Be on good behavior” is not just something moms say, so our performance doesn’t embarrass her around company. It also prevents us from embarrassing ourselves.

Keith doesn’t realize it, but the Holy Spirit is planting seeds in his heart about Jesus. The sign is that his conscience is in high gear, now. God is love (1John 4:16). The Holy Spirit is God. Sunday school is precisely where Keith needs to be to learn more about Jesus.

“Everyone regrets things, Keith. Please come back at learn more about Jesus.” Shakira said. “We can bring your little sister, too.”

Keith smiled shyly. Then he slammed the ball into the far corner of the 4-Square paint, ending the game. “I’ve got one better. We’ll follow you in our own car this time."

Take Home Nugget

Let’s never forget our accountability to God, and allow our old ways to rule. His power through grace shows our lives to be consistent with being “alive together with Christ” (verse 5). A sure cure for hypocrisy!

The inconsistent Christian helps the devil the most.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Sure Cure 4 Hypocrisy

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Commitment to Convictions

COMMITMENT TO CONVICTIONS

Daniel 1:1-21

The Message vv. 15-16: “At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.”

Does Shakira realize that her life is on display? Keith is watching her very closely. He wondered what had gotten into him to accept her invitation to attend Sunday school—(see Remodeling Keith devotion)—but he’s glad he did. Believers don’t usually pay attention to how people view us, but others do notice. Whether at home, school, or just out in the world, believers are front-and-center.

Daniel didn’t try to impress anyone, either. But something about him affected everyone with whom he came in contact. He impacted servants, his own friends, or peers, and even kings. What made him stand out? Daniel was different from everybody else because he remained steady, committed to his convictions. He believed that Scripture is real, alive, and true. His request could have gotten him—or his guard killed. Why did Daniel dare to make his request to eat only vegetables and drink only water?

The Israelites were exiled to Babylon, and Daniel found himself surrounded by strangers, in a foreign land. Chosen from a royal family because he had no defects or flaws, and proven to be smart, Daniel was treated very well. But he knew these people worshipped idols. It was weird that a young man would resist the food and wine from the royal table. But since Mosaic Law forbade eating food offered to idols, Daniel wanted to obey. Daniel’s request to be fed only vegetables and drink only water proved commitment to his convictions.

Daniel stood firm on his convictions, regardless of his environment, regardless of the outcome. His behavior paid off very well for him, and for his companions. (See Daniel, chapter 3, for the lion’s den story).

Shakira knows well, as we do, that our world offers many compromises (KOM-pro-MISE-es means give-and take choices) to righteous living. But when believers stand firm on what’s the right thing to do, we obey God—regardless of the results.

“So you took Keith to Sunday school?” a few of Shakira’s classmates teased. “What are you—a Nun?”

“No way” Shakira confessed. “I’m not that cool!”

If Shakira would have denied taking Keith, or got mad about being teased, her witness for Jesus would have been trashed.

Take Home Nugget

Conviction about God’s truth is like an anchor that keeps us steady. Commitment to our convictions prevents our powerful witness of Christ from damage.

Point out to me the souls lost in sin

Help me to love, and bring the wandering in.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Commitment to Convictions

A personal, private lesson experience with our staff Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/ For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Does Shakira realize that her life is on display? Keith is watching her very closely. He wondered what had gotten into him to accept her invitation to attend Sunday school—(see Remodeling Keith devotion)—but he’s glad he did. Believers don’t usually pay attention to how people view us, but others do notice. Whether at home, school, or just out in the world, believers are front-and-center.

Daniel didn’t try to impress anyone, either. But something about him affected everyone with whom he came in contact. He impacted servants, his own friends, or peers, and even kings. What made him stand out? Daniel was different from everybody else because he remained steady, committed to his convictions. He believed that Scripture is real, alive, and true. His request could have gotten him--or his guard killed--but that was beside the point of doing the right thing.

The Israelites were exiled to Babylon, and Daniel found himself surrounded by strangers, in a foreign land. Chosen from a royal family because he had no defects or flaws, and proven to be smart, he was treated very well. But he knew these people worshipped idols, and begged for fresh vegetables to eat and only water to drink. It was weird that a young man would resist the food and wine from the royal table. But since Mosaic Law forbade eating food offered to idols, Daniel wanted to obey. Knowing that royal food was first offered to idols, his request proved commitment to his convictions.

Daniel stood firm on his convictions, regardless of his environment, regardless of the outcome. His behavior paid off very well for him, and for his companions. (See Daniel, chapter 3, for the lion’s den story).

Shakira knows well, as we do, that our world offers many compromises (KOM-pro-mise-es means give-and-take choices) to righteous living. But when believers stand firm on what’s the right thing to do, we obey God—regardless of the results.

“So you took Keith to Sunday school?” a few of Shakira’s classmates teased. “What are you—a Nun?”

“No way” Shakira confessed. “I’m not that cool!”

If Shakira would have denied taking Keith, or got mad about being teased, her witness for Jesus would have been trashed.

Take Home Nugget

Conviction about God’s truth is like an anchor that keeps us steady. Commitment to our convictions prevents our powerful witness of Christ from damage.

Point out to me the souls lost in sin Help me to love, and bring the wandering in.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Commitment to Convictions A personal, private lesson experience with our staff Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/ For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.