The Lord gave us the blueprint of His Word to architect our family on Jesus Christ.
Going through the Bible with your family…
Weekly Scripture:
Genesis 33
Story:
Jacob Becomes Israel
Application:
The Lord can change us.
Summary:
Jacob proved to be a liar and a cheater previously. Yet the Lord took him and transformed his life. God allowed trials to come upon Jacob teaching him to place all his trust in God alone. As Jacob learned these lessons the Lord blessed him and converted Jacob into an upright man. The name Jacob means to supersede another by treachery. The name Israel means prince of God. In other words, Jacob went from becoming the heir of his family by injustice to becoming the heir of his family appointed by God.
Focus:
God can change us into whom He created us to be if we will just surrender our will into His hands so that He may accomplish His will through us.
Finding Christ:
In Genesis 32 we see Jacob wrestled with "a man" who later Jacob describes as "I have seen God face to face" which is the preincarnate Christ since Jesus said, "Not that anyone has seen the Father…" John 6:46
Living the Lesson:
Take a bunch of old, broken crayons and old tin cans (from canned fruit or vegetables) and place them before your children. Discuss how these things are suited for the trash can.
Have your children peel the paper off the broken crayons and put several in each tin can. Place the tin cans in a saucepan partially filled with water (half way on tin cans). Melt crayons over low heat, without mixing.
Lay out foil and place cookie cutters on top of it. When wax is gently melted, dry off the outside of the tin cans, and pour wax into cookie cutter molds on top of foil. If wax tries to run out from underneath you may need to press down the cookie cutters for a few moments. When wax is set, gently pop out your crayons that have become something beautiful and useful!
Discuss how when the pieces of junk were placed into your hands, you could work with them to transform them into something beautiful. God can do the same thing. He can make something beautiful out of the ugly things in our lives if we will just commit them into His hands.
Memory Verse:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Prayer:
Lord we know that You alone can change me into the person You created me to be. I am willing to be that person. I commit myself into Your hands. All that I have and all that I am I give to You to transform.
Living the Life:
This week as you mess up and feel conviction, be sure to confess your sins to God and then share with your children about your conviction and repentance. Explain to them you trust God to still work all things together for good. When you see God's glory after something bad has happened, be sure to point it out and give the Lord the praise.