My husband, Glenn, is sharing these daily lessons for our West Huntsville family as we are necessarily (because of the virus) spending less time physically together in worship, study and fellowship. We may be “socially distanced,” but we’re a close-knit family and we want to keep it that way! One way to stay on track together, spiritually, is to think about a common passage and make applications for our lives together even when we are unable to assemble as frequently. I’m sharing these daily family lessons here for those in other places, whose families (or even congregations) might benefit from a common study in these uncommon days of semi-quarantine. There are Family Bible Time guides included, as well. You can adapt, shorten or lengthen them according to the ages of kids (and adults) in your family. Blessings.
From Glenn:
My Favorite Proverbs: The laughter that has hidden sorrow (Prov. 14:13 KJV)
“Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.”
It is safe to say that during my life the hardest I’ve laughed—I mean a deep guffaw with tears—has been at holidays and get-togethers with extended family. It usually has nothing to do with funny jokes someone brought to the table. It has to do with silly things that happen, like the New Year’s Eve when my big fireworks display fell over and began shooting fireballs at family; or the time Sami fell asleep while playing a board game and said nonsensical things; or the time Jeff and I worked for an hour to get wood in a fireplace burning, when my father, who realized we were about to give up, walked over and turned the knob to start the gas log starter. Good times. And yet, as years go by, those memories are mingled with sadness and the sting of tears when we reflect and admit that such good times aren’t going to last forever. We all have that stubborn appointment in Hebrews 9:27 which we must all keep.
Now contrast that with what we will have in heaven which is different in such a blessed way:
Peter described heaven this way: “…an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4).
The revelation of John puts it like this: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).
Today, remember with me the lyrics to an old, familiar song, and I hope you find yourself humming it through the day:
“I have heard of a land, on a far away strand; tis a beautiful home of the soul. Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die; ’tis a land where we never grow old.”
Family Bible Time with Glenn and Cindy:
Let’s switch over to a New Testament passage and take a few practical lessons from the end of Matthew 25.
For tonight, let’s just read and explain verses 31-46. Make sure your children understand:
- …that every one of us will stand before Jesus on that great day that the Bible calls the Judgment Day.
- …that those who get to go to heaven will be those who obey God in this lifetime.
- …that heaven will be forever.
- …that those who are not obedient to God will go to a place of fire for punishment that will last forever.
- …that those who obey are like sheep. They follow the shepherd (Jesus) and he loves them.
- …that those who do not obey are like goats. They just do whatever they want to do.
- …that one of the things we do to obey Jesus is to take care of those around us who are in need.
- …that when we do not take care of people around us with needs, Jesus sees that as our failing to care for Him.
- …that when we do good things for people, especially God’s people, that’s doing good things for Jesus.
Sing the first verse of “There’s a Great Day Coming” with your children or sing “I don’t want to be a goat.”
There’s a Great Day Coming
A great day coming,
There’s a great day coming by and by,
When the saints and the sinners shall
Be parted right and left,
Are you ready for that day to come?
Are you ready for the judgement day?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
For the judgment day?
I Don’t Want to be a Goat
I don’t want to be a goat, nope!
I don’t want to be a goat, no.
Always living without hope, nope!
I don’t want to be a goat, no.
Chorus:
I just wanna be a sheep (baa).
I just wanna be a sheep (baa).
With a Savior Who my soul will keep.
I just wanna be a sheep (baa).
I don’t want to be a Pharisee.
I don’t want to be a Pharisee.
Always living in a heresy…
I don’t want to be a Pharisee.
(chorus)
I don’t want to be a Sadducee.
I don’t want to be a Sadducee.
‘Cause they’re so sad, you see!
I don’t want to be a Sadducee.
(chorus)
I don’t want to be a hypocrite.
I don’t want to be a hypocrite.
Always talkin’, never living it.
I don’t want to be a hypocrite.
(chorus)
Goats, though are very independent. They are known for being strong-willed and for even being destructive.
The shepherd protects his sheep from what is around them. The goatherd (the one who guides the goats) needs to protect whatever is around them from his goats. That’s a big difference.
We want to be like sheep! We want to follow and obey our shepherd, Jesus.
Pray with your kids (or your lambs). Which have they been today?
