Family Time…Are you saved?
As your family time continues with the topic of “God saves you”, this week’s focus from the family devotional discusses “whether or not you are saved” according to the Bible. This is one of the most important parenting conversations that you can have with your kids. Don’t just assume that each person in your family is “saved,” make sure to have this conversation with them. A Biblically saved person is saved from the punishment that they deserve because of their sin against God. God tells us that the punishment for sin against God is the death of that person; and the Bible defines death as being separated from God. Being saved means you are spared from living life on this earth separate from God and spared from living eternally separate from God. A person is saved by believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross in place of you, that He paid the punishment of death for you. Therefore if you believe in Jesus, then you will be spared separation from God while on earth and afterwards. Scripture refers to this promise as living an abundant life on earth and living eternally with God in heaven. Scripture also tells us that if your faith is real, then it will be evident and you will be changed by God’s Holy Spirit and you will live a changed lifestyle that you and others will be able to see.
As a Mom, I found the best way to explain salvation is to tell my own salvation story to my kids. I told them basically how I lived before Jesus (of course, an edited version without any inappropriate details) to what finally encouraged me believe Jesus and my changed lifestyle after I believed Him. And I encouraged them to think about their own story of their own faith. Could they tell me how Jesus changed their lives? And my husband shared his own story too. At first, my both kids realized they did not have a story to tell, which we realized later meant they had not really believed Jesus. But over time, they did believe Jesus and now they have a story to tell about their changed lives. It is not an exciting story and it does not need to be…but there does need to be some evidence of a change in behavior and lifestyle. God changes you by cleaning you up and makes you more like He is.
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and ask God to reveal if everyone in your family is saved. And if anyone is not saved. Ask God to give you the wisdom of how to talk to them and in the devotional discussion time talk about the questions listed. If any of the answers from your family question whether or not they would be allowed into heaven, listen to your kids. It is normal to doubt, if they really do not believe. And they know their own hearts. Ask them if they would like to be saved by Jesus and if they would, then lead them in the salvation prayer in the prayer suggestion. And keep teaching them about Jesus and the amazing relationship with Him. It is not unusual to pray the salvation prayer at different times in a child’s or an adult’s life because the belief was not real previously, so keep praying with them and for them…and stay in God’s Word and you will eventually see amazing changes in them which is evidence of God’s Holy Spirit working in their lives.
Do you have questions or need prayer for your family? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.
I will be praying for you!
Stacy
Stacy A. Davis
Teach Intentionally
This week we are in the 11th Month Topic and 2nd Family Time (or page 94) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…
Family Time 2:
Month 11 Topic: God saves us…Are you saved?
Talk with God: Read…Titus 3:5-6
~ Titus 3:5-6 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
- Were we saved on the basis of our deeds? Who poured out the Holy Spirit upon us?
Walk with God: Discuss… This Scripture reminds us that our own deeds do not save us. Jesus did it all. Discuss salvation amongst your own family members. Have each of you prayed to receive Jesus Christ into your lives to be saved? Is the Holy Spirit residing in your life (lives)? Here are two questions to consider in discussing salvation: 1) If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain you would spend eternity in Heaven? 2) If you were standing before Jesus and He were to say, “Why should I let you into my Heaven?”, what would you say?
Prayer suggestion… Sample prayer of salvation: Lord, I know I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I know you are God and you sent Your Son Jesus to live on this earth, live a perfect life, and die for the sins of the world. I trust You today to save me and come into my heart and live with me for eternity. Thank You, Lord for saving me.
Family Time 2:
Leader Answers:
- No
- Jesus Christ
- Discussion ideas: Use the Romans Road to lead family members through Scripture to explain salvation and believing in Christ: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9-11
© 2011 Lisa Clark and Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.
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