Family Time…Give of yourself like Jesus
Do you like a little adventure in your life? What is adventure to you? Isn't it a series of exciting events…with calm moments in-between? It is peaks and valleys; the calm times or valleys cause the exciting times or peaks to stand out. If you live life trusting Jesus and seeking HIs direction, you will find a very interesting life ahead of you. This month’s family time topic from the “Sky Ranch Family Devotional: Follow the Leader” is on “Jesus is God’s Servant“and the weekly discussion is on “Jesus claimed to be God’s Servant, so give of yourself like Jesus. “ Trusting Jesus to the point that you stop controlling your life or designing the best outcome for yourself, and instead… letting go, serving God and being selfless will bring you to this life full of adventure and an amazing peace of mind. Did Jesus have peaks and valleys in His life events on earth? Was there difficulty sometimes? You bet! But Jesus tells you that the lifestyle that He role-models of trusting the Father is the way to the abundant life; or a life that is worth living (John 10:10).
As a Mom, I found it was a challenge to encourage my kids to be selfless, servant leaders. It did not come naturally to our family. Like everyone else, we were born self-centered. Instead, I had to teach sharing, playing nicely, don't grab, wait your turn, etc. It was hard. When they were older, the topics changed to don't drink….even if your friends drink, don't bully, treat others right, reach out and invite others.. instead of always waiting to be invited, or look for the good in others and tell them. Sometimes you don't feel like being self-less. I learned it was a process and took time for our family to change. My kids, now in college, still aren't perfect...but improved. The most useful lesson learned was that sometimes selfless behavior…meant giving up being accepted by the crowd…and it meant having self control around their friends. High school kids face a lot of difficulty if they go against "the crowd." It often leads to being ostracized at a time when acceptance is the main thing you want. You can really pay a price for doing the right thing. Teaching our family, to pray (seek God first), trust your values (God's teaching of right and wrong), use self-control (and ask for God's help, when you can't do it), remember the positives, and stop and reflect (remember all the times that you did make a difference because you stood for the right way)...it all seemed to help. Later, once my kids learned enough self-control to stop "following the crowd", they could move into servant leadership and find ways to reach out and serve others in a more impactful way.
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and asking God to show you if anyone struggles with "following the crowd" as opposed to "following Jesus?" Ask God the best way to help your family understand how to counter the lure of being accepted by the crowd. Ask God to show your family how to move from "following the crowd" …to serving Him and making a positive difference in our world .Servant leadership starts by being valued and discussed at home. Pray for God to guide your conversation and give you insight of exactly what your family needs to hear.
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
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals and
Teach Intentionally Author
This week we are in the 3rd Topic and 12th Family Time (or page 30) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…
Family Time 12:
Topic 3: Jesus was sent as God’s Servant…Jesus claimed to be God’s Servant, so give of yourself like Jesus
Talk with God: Read…Scriptures and questions below.
Philippians 2:5-8 … Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped , 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
- In Phil. 2:7, what form did Jesus take on earth?
Luke 22:27 (Jesus is speaking) “For who is greater, the one who reclines [at the table,] or the one who serves ? Is it not the one who reclines [at the table]? But I am among you as the one who serves.”
- In Luke 22:27, what does Jesus say that He is doing?
Walk with God: Discuss… In Philippians 2:5-8 notice how Jesus normally exists in the form of God…and then, when He comes to earth, He empties Himself and finds Himself a man, obeying God so completely that He ends up dying on a cross. Wow! How is Jesus, who is equal to God, serving you by these actions?
Prayer suggestion… Pray for God to open your eyes and see Jesus
Family Time 12:
Leader Answers:
- Bond-Servant
- Serving
- Discussion ideas: In 1 John 3:16 love is shown by laying down your life for another. Jesus actually died in place of you and literally gave up His life on this earth so that you could have an abundant life while on earth and an eternal life later if you believe Him. Jesus role-modeled serving by saving you eternally. Have you ever given up your personal needs for someone else? How?
© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.
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