Family Time…Do good like God
Even though in the Garden of Eden everything started out good, it all changed the minute that mankind sinned. Psalms 14:1 and Romans 3:12 tells us that there is none good, not even one. Before I was a Christian, I often thought that people were born basically good and I have heard many other people agree and say the same. But once I started studying God’s Word, I learned that scripture tells us that actually none of us are born “good”. We are all born sinners in Romans 5:12. None of us would be good if God did not lead the way and show us how to be good and define goodness for us. But what does God tell us is good? How do we know what good is? God gives “goodness” in Galatians 5:22 as a result of God’s Holy Spirit.
So, goodness is Holy Spirit inspired. Ephesians 5:9 tells us that as God’s children we will do what is pleasing to the Lord and it will result in goodness, righteousness, and truth. So, it is again a result of the Holy Spirit causing goodness within us. King David tells us in Psalms 14:1 that understanding and seeking after God is considered good. So even though none of us would seek God nor be good on our own. God inspires goodness in all of us and defines goodness for us through His Holy Spirit and His Word. The behavior of goodness is summarized by all that is right in God’s eyes.
As a Mom, I noticed that this biblical teaching of kids born as little sinners was true. I did not have to teach my kids to lie about eating candy before dinner or lie about stealing the other child’s toy and then pretend they did not. They naturally knew how to do all of that. Instead, I actually had to teach them to be good according to God’s definition of good which is not lying or stealing. I had to teach them to treat others in the way that you want to be treated which is often different than how you were treated. God tells us in Romans 1:19 that each person is born with a basic understanding of right and wrong written on our hearts. God tells us that we can understand the difference between good and bad and that self-control will work for awhile, but we can’t stay “good” as a habit on our own. It is only after my kids believed Jesus and received God’s indwelling Holy Spirit that parenting got much easier because God’s Holy Spirit gave them a desire for “good” behavior as a habit for their lifestyle. But don’t get me wrong, they still occasionally sin, but sinning is not the habit of their life anymore.
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family to desire favor from the Lord by doing “good” in God’s eyes. Pray for God to help your family look for opportunities to do “good” for others. Since it is the Christmas season, share with your family how Jesus is an indescribably good gift from God and why. God saw an opportunity to do good by sending Jesus to save you and me. Share how Jesus saves with your family and that gift was sent by God’s grace. Ask… how you can imitate God and share something good with others? Have you ever shown grace to others? Grace is unmerited favor. Encourage your family to think of ways to reach out to others this season. Can your family afford to share a few gifts with the local children’s hospital or a local family shelter? Can you share the message of the hope of Jesus with a friend that God directs you to? It can even be as simple as…can you show kindness to your brother or sister when they don’t deserve it?
Do you need help or prayer for your family time? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.
Merry Christmas! I will be praying for you!
Stacy Davis
Click the link below for your free copy of the Sky Ranch “Open your Eyes” Family Devotional …
This week we are in the 4th Month Topic and 3rd Family Time (or page 39) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…
Family Time 3:
Month 4 Topic: God is perfectly good…Do good like God
Talk with God: Read…Proverbs 3:27, Proverbs 12:2, 3 John 1:11
~ Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do [it].
- In Prov. 3:27, what are you not to withhold?
~ Proverbs 12:2 A good man will obtain favor from the Lord.
- In Prov. 12:2, what does a good man obtain?
~ 3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
- In 3 John 1:11, what are you to imitate?
Walk with God: Discuss… God tells us to “do good” when it is in our power. Think about that. Do you make nice comments, share, invite someone to dinner, give a big tip, smile, encourage? Do you? Most of us skip the small things, don’t we? Does God skip it? No, He doesn’t miss a moment to be kind and we are to imitate Him. Still give the big things, too…like food or clothes to a shelter, find someone a job, help the homebound with their needs, visit and care for the widows, orphans, sick and needy. Share the gospel. What will you obtain? Favor. Why would you want favor from the Lord?
Prayer suggestion… Pray for God through His Spirit to help you do what is good.
Family Time 3:
Leader Answers:
- Good
- Favor from the Lord
- What is good
Discussion ideas: Favor is to be pleasing, acceptable to God, or to be approved by God. Isn’t that our desire? We want to do what is right in God’s eyes. Encourage each other to share things that are right and good that you can do as a family
© 2011 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.
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