To Sin or Not to Sin

Read It: Romans 6:14-15 (NRSV)

 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 

Learn It:

What a great question.  Should we not worry about sinning because we know that we have been saved by grace?  If I'm already promised eternal life through God's grace and forgiveness then what is there to stop me from sinning?  Paul wants us to understand that living in a life of grace and God's forgiveness is a free gift, but if we go and show our lives to other people and in Paul's example God, then our life should reflect the gift given us.  So if we are people who love God then we should have examples and memories of ways we have lived that out. If, however, we have a life full of sin yet say we believe then maybe our true belief isn't what we claim it to be.  Don't just say you believe but live it out.  SAY and DO what you believe.  We don't perform acts of love to others to earn God's grace but we do it as a RESPONSE to that free gift of love and grace.

Share It:

What are the ways that you as a family live out your faith life?  What ways do you live under the grace of God and not under the law of sin?  What might be other ways in the future that you can respond to the grace God has given you?  In other words, what are ways that you can say THANK YOU to God for the gift of grace which tells us of God's love and forgiveness and everlasting life for us?  Share with your family about these ideas and more about living in God's amazing grace!

Live It:

This next week pick 1 thing you can do to live in God's grace and respond to it.  Help out a friend, send someone a note, give a hug, etc.  Make this time a time to live out the gifts God freely gives us.

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It IS Good!

Read It: Genesis 1:11-12 (NRSV)

11 Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 

Learn It:

Often we know the beginning of the Bible so well as to what the words are, that we tend to just skim it over each time we read it.  I believe that these passages are very significant because of what it tells us about God and what God did but also about God's own nature.  Read the Genesis story 1:1-2:4a and look at what you can learn about God.  God didn't just make creation and thought of it as a scrap piece of paper that would later be thrown away but as something good!  Each thing he did each day (water, sun, moon, vegetation, humans) he saw all of what he did and declares it good!

Share It:

I encourage you today or whenever you use this devotion to go outside with your family and do this outside.  Share with each other what are the best things you love and enjoy about creation.  What is it or what specific things jump out to you as good?  What things jump out at you and say to you, "God made this".  Talk with each other about what is so good about all of the creation that God gave to us to live in and enjoy.

Live It:

Spend this week looking...really looking...at the beauty of creation.  In the car, on your bike, walking, from the comfort of your home, at work, in school.  Look at all the things that God  has made for us to love and enjoy and live in.  Just give God a little bit of thanks for the beauty of the earth that was made for us because of God's love for us.

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Spiritual Work

Read It: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NRSV)

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 

Learn It:

This is such a popular verse in the Bible there is a good chance that you have heard it before.  I think the best part about this passage is that it shows our diversity.  We all believe in the same God, we trust in the same Spirit and yet we are given different gifts and different abilities to use for that service.  I personally don't think this is an exhaustive list...how could it be?  But it gives us an idea that the things we are good at the things that we can do to make the world a better place are all gifts and abilities and services that the Spirit has placed in each of us.

Share It:

This weeks share it is going to be obvious and simple and yet I think by talking about it, it will be a great help. Have everyone take a piece of paper and write down the different things they are good at.  Take a few minutes to complete a list.  Then go around in a circle and talk about some or all of those gifts.  After you have all shared spend some time talking about how those things you are good at can be used to help God or give glory to God.  How can these gifts be used to make God known in the world?

Live It:

Take some time this week and use one or more of those gifts on your list to do something that pleases God or makes God known.  See how you can use those things that the Spirit gave you to do wonderful things.

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Soul Relief

Read It: 1 Peter 5:7-8 (NRSV)

 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 

Learn It:

Lost and Found is a band (a duo) that sings a song called "Lions" (a.k.a. "The Slinky Song") and they use the second half of verse 8 above as the text for the song.  (It was also taught to our  kids a month or so ago during our kid's song time).  It's a great song and I encourage you to check it out...here is a YouTube video of the song.     There is another video here that has a great explanation of this verse and the song.  Michael says this, "The one that is in each of us in this place, is greater than the one in this world."  I think that speaks a lot to who we are as Christians.  We have this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit residing in us and it truly is greater than anything that is in this world.  So with that confidence we can cast all our anxiety on God because we know that in the end God will carry us through.

Share It:

Really take a few minutes and watch the first video (it's less than three minutes) with the whole family and listen to the words of the song.  It is a fun...and funny song but what parts of the song stuck out to you?  Were there any parts that were words of encouragement or phrases that stuck with you as you listened to this song?  After you listen to this song (at least once!) read the verse above and see if you have any anxiety or if you just have joy.  How or why do you think your cares and anxieties went away?  Spend some time talking about these ideas.

Live It:

I encourage you to bookmark this video or go out and buy Lost and Found's CD with this song and listen to it each day this week...at the start of your day.  I want you to see if this song can get you going on a good start.  I think there is something powerful about beginning the day with a wonderful word from God each day whether it's through scripture, song, prayer or whatever might be your method.  Use this song this week as a way to cast all your cares and anxieties on God.

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Please post comments with your experience with the share it or live it part of this weeks post.  Let others know if you and your family found this useful.