Children's Easter Devotion (Day 4): Desire Him More

And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”  Luke 18:18-30

Discuss
1) What question did the ruler ask Jesus?
2) How did Jesus answer? Why did the man go away sad?
3) Why do you think Jesus told him to sell everything he had?
4) What in your life might hold you back from following Jesus?

Final Thought
If we truly want to follow Jesus, we have to let it all go. Let go of everything of this world that holds our attention and our heart more than God. That's what Jesus was asking this rich young ruler...let go of your possessions. Don't you see that I am so much more fulfilling than money? Desire Me more than your riches. Yet the man went away sad because he could no do that. For some it may be riches, for others a career, for others the opinions of their family and friends, for others it's the dreams and goals they have for themselves. When we follow Jesus, we have to put all that before Him and say, take what you want, change what you want...my life belongs to You...I will follow where You lead. When we do that, He will answer, He will lead, He will strengthen us for the journey because, "What is impossible with men, is possible with God."

Prayer

Song - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross


1. When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Children's Easter Devotion (Day 3): Walking in Humility

(Jesus) told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'
"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"
Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself (to humble yourself), you will become more than yourself." Luke 18:9-14

Discuss
1) Describe the two men in the story. How were they alike? How were they different?
2) Which kind of prayer is easier to pray?
3) Which prayer did God like better? Why?
4) What does it mean to "humble yourself?"

Final Thought
We may not pray a prayer, like the Pharisee did, out loud, but how often do we think prideful thoughts...think we are better than other people, that we deserve good things because of our good behavior, think we are smarter, prettier, more talented...think that surely God should reward someone like us. When we think this way we are fooling ourselves. The truth is we all sin, we all make mistakes, think wrong thoughts, say wrong things, do wrong things. We all need Jesus to enter our lives, clean us up and change us from the inside out. We all need to be humbled...to stop thinking so much about ourselves and instead think so much about God.

Prayer

Song - Amazing Grace  

(maybe talk through the verses with your children before you sing this song...help them understand we don't "deserve" anything from God but instead should just praise Him. Because of His grace we have all that we will ever need)

Children's Easter Devotion Day 2: God Wants a Full House

Jesus replied. "There was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, 'Come on in; the food's on the table.'
"Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, 'I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.'
"Another said, 'I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.'
"And yet another said, 'I just got married and need to get home to my wife.'
"The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant 'Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.' 
"The servant reported back, 'Master, I did what you commanded— and there's still room.'
"The master said, 'Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full!'"
Luke 14:16-24

Discuss
1) Pretend that you were having the most fantastic birthday party ever - but everyone you invited said they couldn't come. How would that make you feel?
2) What did the man giving the party in Jesus' story do?
3) A parable is a story with a meaning. In this parable, the man giving the party is God. Whom did the first guests represent? The second group of guests? What message was Jesus giving the Jews throughout this story?
4) When God calls us to know Him or spend time with Him, sometimes we give excuses too. What are some of the excuses we use instead of accepting God's invitations?

Final Thought
God is always calling us to know Him better. He loves us so much! Just as parents want their children to know them better or friends want to know each other better, God wants us to know Him! Psalm 34:8 says "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Knowing God is like enjoying a wonderful feast. And we are invited because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. Those who accept will have a seat at God's glorious banquet in Heaven.

Prayer

Song - Just As I Am

 Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Here is a link for the music:  Just as I am

Easter Devotion: Jesus Loves the Children (Day 1)

People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in."  Luke 18:15-17

Begin the Lenten devotions by asking your child(ren) what Easter means to them, beginning with your youngest child. Each child can then add to what the child before them said. This will give you a good idea of their current understanding of Easter.

Explain that for the next six weeks until Easter, your family will be spending a few minutes every day talking about Jesus and what Easter means.

Begin by reading Luke 18:15-17: People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

You can ask the following questions:

 - Why did the disciples rebuke (scold) the parents who were bringing their children to see Jesus?

 - Do you ever feel, as a child, that adults don't have time for you and that you aren't as important as other adults?

 - If you do feel that way sometimes, do you know that Jesus understood how children feel? Remember, He too was a child. He never wanted children around Him to feel that way and so He made sure that His disciples let all the children come to Him.

- Then, Jesus said a wonderful thing..."the kingdom of God belongs to children." What do you think He meant by that?

- Jesus wanted the children to know that they were just as special to Him as the adults.

- He said one more thing: no one will enter the kingdom of God unless they enter like a little child. What do you think that meant?

- Do you know that children believe easily in Jesus and they trust Him. Jesus wanted the adults to believe easily in Him and trust Him just like children.

- Are there any other thoughts or questions?

You can say a prayer with your children thanking Jesus that He notices and loves children.

Maybe sing "Jesus loves the little children"

Easter resources:

Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard

Stories Behind the Traditions and Songs of Easter by Ace Collins

Easter Garden Tutorial

Preparing Hearts for Easter Through Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday...the beginning of the Easter or Lenten season. This time will culminate with Good Friday on April 3rd and Easter on April 5th. This is the greatest celebration for Christians yet for many children, mine included, it often revolves around Easter egg hunts and candy with very little reflection on what this most holiest of days really means. 

"Easter egg hunts and chocolate candies inspire great enthusiasm in children! But how can we as Christian parents inspire in our children appreciation for Jesus' death and excitement for His resurrection? 

It is the Christmas dilemma all over again, except that Christmas is easier in some respects. Children readily grasp the idea of a sweet little baby in a manger. Stars, angels and sheep on a hillside form lovely pictures in a child's mind. 

Easter is a bit trickier, however. The cross is not a comfortable image. Suffering and death are subjects that most adults want to avoid, and they certainly don't relish tackling them with their young children," Ann Hibbard from Family Celebrations at Easter. I will be drawing much of the ideas for the following Lenten devotions from her book as well as Ann Voskamp's Trail to the Tree

So how to make Easter meaningful for our children? I believe that if we, as parents, can spend a few minutes every day sharing from the Bible the story of Easter, we can help our children and ourselves understand and embrace the Easter message. Just like we prepare for Christmas with the Advent season, we can prepare for Easter with the Lenten season. 

The Lenten season begins today. I will do my best to post a Lenten devotion for each day of Lent until Easter. I pray these devotions will help you and your children learn more about the meaning of Easter and draw closer to Jesus Christ. 

I will also include any resources that I have found which do a good job of sharing the Easter story with children. If you, as my reader, have any suggestions, please share them and I will post them daily.