Junior Church is so exciting at times! Today, I gave the boys strips of paper to write sins/temptations that held them in bondage. As they wrote, I attached the slips of paper to make a chain. It was very easy for them to see that even little things added up to make a BIG problem. Why does sin bind us so tightly? After all, aren't we "free" to do however we see fit? We have rights and privileges to do whatever we want. Why then, does it tie us up so? How does giving up our own pleasures and going the "straight and narrow" help us?
The answer is in the principle of Freedom. Freedom enjoys the desire and the power to do what is right rather than claiming the privilege to do what we want. Let's look at this a little at a time:
1) Freedom enjoys, or gives true joy. Joy is spontaneous enthusiasm in the spirit that results from being in fellowship with the Lord. The first step of course, is to know Christ as your personal Savior, but fellowship comes by communicating with Him and living according to His Word.
2) Desire is appetite. If you feed a child sweets all the time, they will not want to eat their vegetables. However, if you feed them only fresh fruits and vegetables, sweets will make them sick. Appetite works the same way in the spiritual world. The more time you spend with the Lord, reading His Word, talking with Him, and fellowshipping with other Believers, the more you will desire the Lord.
3) Power is "dunamis." That is the Biblical, Greek word for power from which we derive the word "dynamite." The pressures of the world are heavy. Popularity and favor have strong lures. Promises of wealth are very appealing. But to those who are seeking His way, God promises a dynamic power to do what is right, also known as grace. No, the right thing is not going to be easy, but the rewards far exceed any earthly thrills gained from indulgence on earth.
4) Do what is right. In today's world, right is relative. However, God says He will judge all by His rules (the Bible). When you and I stand before the throne of God, there will be no room for excuses, no place for the blame game. Just our ugly sin next to the holiness of God. Do what is right according to the Bible.
5) Rather than claiming privileges... The courts today are full of law suits of people demanding others to acknowledge their way. The more "rights" people claim, the less freedom they truly have. It is ironic that when everyone grasps at everything for themselves, no one gets anything. All they end up with is shredded papers and hurt feelings.
As the boys pondered this concept, they got all excited about trying it out. Each one admitted "I need this." Isn't it amazing how powerful God's principles are?
The answer is in the principle of Freedom. Freedom enjoys the desire and the power to do what is right rather than claiming the privilege to do what we want. Let's look at this a little at a time:
1) Freedom enjoys, or gives true joy. Joy is spontaneous enthusiasm in the spirit that results from being in fellowship with the Lord. The first step of course, is to know Christ as your personal Savior, but fellowship comes by communicating with Him and living according to His Word.
2) Desire is appetite. If you feed a child sweets all the time, they will not want to eat their vegetables. However, if you feed them only fresh fruits and vegetables, sweets will make them sick. Appetite works the same way in the spiritual world. The more time you spend with the Lord, reading His Word, talking with Him, and fellowshipping with other Believers, the more you will desire the Lord.
3) Power is "dunamis." That is the Biblical, Greek word for power from which we derive the word "dynamite." The pressures of the world are heavy. Popularity and favor have strong lures. Promises of wealth are very appealing. But to those who are seeking His way, God promises a dynamic power to do what is right, also known as grace. No, the right thing is not going to be easy, but the rewards far exceed any earthly thrills gained from indulgence on earth.
4) Do what is right. In today's world, right is relative. However, God says He will judge all by His rules (the Bible). When you and I stand before the throne of God, there will be no room for excuses, no place for the blame game. Just our ugly sin next to the holiness of God. Do what is right according to the Bible.
5) Rather than claiming privileges... The courts today are full of law suits of people demanding others to acknowledge their way. The more "rights" people claim, the less freedom they truly have. It is ironic that when everyone grasps at everything for themselves, no one gets anything. All they end up with is shredded papers and hurt feelings.
As the boys pondered this concept, they got all excited about trying it out. Each one admitted "I need this." Isn't it amazing how powerful God's principles are?
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