Family Time…Jesus in the Flesh and the Mediator
Trick or treat? Which one do you usually pick? We all want the treat, don’t we? I don’t like to be tricked. I don’t think anyone really does. Deception is very similar to being tricked. No one likes that either. God warns you in scripture that there will always be people who want to deceive you and one common form of their deception is to say that “Jesus did not come in the flesh” or “God did not really come to earth.” This month’s family time topic from the “Sky Ranch Family Devotional: Follow the Leader” is on “Jesus is Man“ and the weekly discussion is on “Jesus in the Flesh and the Mediator.“ Today, the more common deception is that people question if "Jesus is God"…instead they claim Jesus was only a man without supernatural power. It is important to teach your family to truly believe God at His Word and His Word says that Jesus is fully God and fully Man. He is both. When your family states that they believe in Jesus, then you are committing to believe in the God-Man Jesus and the opposite is true too…if you deny belief in Jesus, then you are denying belief in the God-Man Jesus. Scripture tells you there is a harsh penalty for denying belief in Jesus. This really is an important aspect of your family’s spiritual understanding. One of the awesome benefits of believing in Jesus is His response to you. If you trust Jesus, He will explain God to you and you to God. He will be a Mediator for you. He will speak to God, the Father on your behalf. Christians still sin and make mistakes after their initial repentance and belief in Jesus. You need Jesus to be a Mediator. There are many benefits from trusting Jesus, but the fact that He intercedes for you with God, the Father, is one of the biggest. Share with your family the idea of interceding or mediating and tell you kids how it can help you
As a Mom, I found the idea of mediation wasn't hard to explain. All siblings fight, kids at school fight, kids even fight with a parent. It happens. Most kids understand what it means to be in a fight and they usually have had the experience of a mediator, a person uninvolved in the fight who reasons with the two people fighting and helps them settle the argument. Most people appreciate the mediator who will get involved and help everyone find a peaceful solution. The complicated part was explaining to my kids "why" you need Jesus as a mediator. Why is a Mediator needed between you and God, the Father? Most people know about sin, but don't really want to think they actually sin and cause their separation from God. But they do. It is critical to understand "why" you need Jesus. My kids thought repenting (asking for forgiveness) of sin was a one-time confession, at the time of belief. It was a surprise to them, when I explained that you need to say you are sorry to God the next time you offend Him too. Just like in a relationship with people, if you did something offensive, you need to apologize for the new offense. Otherwise, there is a distance in the relationship, but, thankfully, “I am sorry” is very healing and Jesus is continually mediating for you.
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and asking God to reveal if anyone struggles with the belief that Jesus is God in human form. Pray that God will give you the right words to explain the God-Man, Jesus. Pray that your family will be honest and recognize if they struggle with sin. Talk about sin and define it for them. Pray that they will trust turning to Jesus as a Mediator when they recognize that they have sinned and need to ask forgiveness.
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 2nd Topic and 10th Family Time (or page 25) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…
Family Time 10:
Topic 2: Jesus is Man…Jesus in the flesh and the Mediator
Talk with God: Read… Scriptures and questions below.
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist…
- In 1 John 4:2, who confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh?
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ [as] coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
- In 2 John 1:7, who does not confess Jesus as coming in the flesh?
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [ the ] man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony [borne] at the proper time.
- In 1 Tim. 2:5, who is the one mediator between God and men?
Walk with God: Discuss… Scripture says that it is important to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Why is it important for you to know and confess personally that Jesus came to earth in the flesh?
Prayer suggestion… Pray for God’s help to believe Jesus came to earth in the flesh.
Family Time 10:
Leader Answers:
- Those from God
- Deceivers
- The man Jesus Christ
- Discussion ideas: If you deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, then you are listening to a deceiving spirit or a deceiver. You are being lied to, so don’t listen to any religion or teacher that teaches this lie. Since Jesus came in the flesh, He acts as your mediator between you and God. Romans 8:34 tells you that Jesus intercedes on your behalf. Even as a Christian, you still have sinful moments and Jesus is there to intercede or mediate for you. What sinful moments has Jesus mediated for you?
© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.
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