The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…
John 1:14
Second grade math was apparently a strength of mine {those were the days} so I was promoted to the third grade just for math class. At first I was excited, but the work was much more difficult than I anticipated. Mrs. Darrow was very firm and intimidating, and two seats up was Danny Jacks. {Danny Jacks got a 1600 on his SATs – enough said.} I was in over my head. But instead of asking for help, I told myself, “I’m small. I’m young. I’m not smart enough. I don’t have a voice here; I don’t belong here.” I believed those words that slyly sounded like my own, and so they held great power over me. I didn’t ask for help and the experiment ended with failure and smallness tainting my heart.
These same lies overshadowed me for almost 25 years. Whenever I would think about going for something challenging or speaking up, I’d subconsciously shoot myself back down. Time passed and I finally became a wife and mother like I’d always dreamed, but I was still very small on the inside. I felt like a failure as a mom. I felt like I didn’t have a voice in my marriage. I desperately asked a mentor-friend to help me pray through these issues and together we asked God where these lies first entered my life. Suddenly I was eight years old shrinking into that little wooden desk in the back row of Mrs. Darrow’s math class, alone and afraid and failing. Believing God’s promise that He will never leave us or forsake us, we asked Jesus if He was there in that room back in 1984, and the most beautiful scene unfolded in my mind’s eye. Jesus was there! He slid in next to me and with a wink and a smile slid something across my desk: a bar of gold. I immediately thought of a song we’d learned that very year in chapel with the lyrics of Psalm 19:
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Jesus wanted me to know that He didn’t give me those sad thoughts, and He didn’t care what grades I made or how perfect I was. Instead He gave me something much more valuable and enduring: the Word of God. The Truth. Jesus Himself, for that was the year I asked Him to be mine! These treasures were the basis of my identity and His words were more powerful than the dark ones. I broke those lies like a stick over my knee and heard God speak the Truth: I have a voice, I am valuable, God loves me no matter how I perform and He has given me treasure that far exceeds any man-made “success” or “failure.” I do indeed treasure His Word, and its Truth has changed my life!
What to share with your child about the Bible:
Words are powerful. When your Dad tells you he’s proud of you, it makes you feel great, doesn’t it? And when someone says something mean to you, it makes you feel bad, doesn’t it? Have you ever thought about how the words you say are powerful? Did you know the words you think are also powerful?
Now, if we are just people and our words make a difference… imagine the effect God’s words have! Think about it: all He had to do was say: “Let there be Light” and there was light! God’s words are the most powerful force in the whole universe! Why do you think God’s words are the MOST powerful? {Because He is God and He said so, because they are the complete Truth; because He promised they will come true. Isaiah 55:11}
What is one name for the Bible? The Word of God. The whole Bible is made up of words spoken and inspired by God Himself. That makes the Bible very important and very powerful! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is sharper than the sharpest sword. It also says the Word of God is alive and always doing something.
You know how that’s possible? Because one of God’s nicknames for His Son Jesus is “The Word.”
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God…
And the Word became human and lived among us.
John 1:1,14
So the Bible isn’t just words on a page for us to try to memorize to be a good person. The Bible is the Truth because it is the words out of His mouth and because it is Jesus, God’s Son. So when you read the Bible, and when you listen to hear Jesus talking to you, remember this: Jesus loves you and wants to talk to you, and His words are the best, most loving, most powerful words in existence! The Bible tells us all the amazing promises God has made to us, and He always keeps His promises!
Ideas for Discussion:
1. The Bible is powerful Truth. When lies meet the Word of God, Truth wins. If your own “third grade math class” comes to mind, I hope you can take some time to ask God to help you pinpoint any lies you’ve believed and what He has to say about that. The truth will set you free! We can also lead our children in these prayers as we see potential pitfalls for their hearts.
2. If you’re like me, you may sometimes consider the Bible a stack of old rules we must live by, or a guilt trip sitting on your nightstand that you just can’t seem to get to. Share with your child that the Bible is an instruction book for life but we don’t have to strive to live up to it. God is always with us to lead us by His word. As we grow in friendship with Jesus, he will also help us understand the words of the Bible.
3. The Bible is all about relationship. The Bible is a love letter filled with promises that are all fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ. The more we receive Jesus and all He accomplished on the cross, the more we can point our children toward relationship with Him. Focus on your child’s growing relationship with Jesus as you talk about the Bible. Whether they are 2 and just being introduced to Jesus as a friend or 10 and beginning to develop a deeper friendship with him, talk about how the Bible will help guide them as they grow with Jesus.
Ideas for Activity:
1. Search the scriptures by topic based on your child’s immediate needs. For example, if your child has been experiencing bad dreams, sit down and search the Word for what God promises. I’d suggest Bible Gateway {includes The Message translation for an easier read} or Blue Letter Bible for deeper root-word studies. Choose four or five verses for a fold-out card and have your child write and/or decorate it. Keep it handy and read it together at bedtime, confident that speaking the truth changes the atmosphere in the room and speaks to every physical, emotional and spiritual dynamic in play.
2. Take one of the scriptures above and make up a song together. {Feel free to steal a favorite tune and make it fit your lyrics!}
3. When fixing a snack or a meal, do it together. Talk about how healthy foods are good for your body. It’s the same way with what we listen to and what we say. What God says is the healthiest words we can ever hear. Wanna hear something God says? Quote a verse and say it again together. Eat the Word as you eat a snack!
3 Truths to Share with Your Child about the Bible:
1. Words are powerful – the ones we hear, say and think. God’s Words are the most powerful of all!
2. The Bible is a letter from God full of promises for us.
3. Jesus is the Word of God wrapped up in a person and given to us. The more we read the Bible, the better friends we become with Jesus.
Prayer:
God, thank You for Your Words. We want to love and believe and remember them. Forgive us for any ways we’ve made the Bible work for our belief system instead of coming to You first as our Rock and our Strong Tower. Thank you for sending Jesus to be Your words of life to us. We love You Jesus and we long to get to know You better!
What is a Truth from the Word of God that your family would benefit from this week? What promise do you need to cling to? How is Jesus the answer?
Digging Deeper:
Did you know Jesus told us to “eat His flesh”? {John 6:53-55} He also said, “I am the Bread of Life,” {John 6:35} and “This is my body, broken for you.” {That’s what we do when we take communion and the bread is His body.} If Jesus is the Word of God, then there’s another way to eat His body: to read the Bible. God says His word is like healthy food we can eat. Get it? God = Jesus =The Word = Jesus’ body = food for us. Crazy, right?
Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,
fill yourself with only the finest.
Pay attention, come close now,
listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.
Isaiah 55:2-3 MSG
My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words,
Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
Proverbs 4:20-22
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