Can you find the cross?
And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” — Genesis 22:12 (NKJV)
Even though Abraham trusted God, it was hard for him and his wife, Sarah, to see how their family could be a blessing to all people when they could not seem to have even one child of their own. But God wanted the world to know this was all His plan, so He waited until they were too old to have children before He worked a miracle and gave them Isaac. Then He did a very strange thing. He asked Abraham to offer Isaac to Him as a sacrifice of worship! Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do a strange thing? Do your parents ever ask you to do something you don’t understand? God already knew Abraham’s heart, but He was testing him. God knew what Abraham would do. Abraham chose to trust when he didn’t understand, and God gave him another sacrifice in Isaac’s place. But God’s plan was much bigger than Abraham’s story. He gave the ram to die so Abraham’s only son could live, just like He would give His Only Son to die so we can live with Him forever.
Today's Prayer Lord God, thank You for the plans You have for my life. I want to learn to choose Your plan instead of mine. Please help me remember if I study your Bible and pray to You each day, I will know how to do what pleases You. Please help me never forget to thank You for the sacrifice You made for me.
Today's Activity: Talk about the meaning of “sacrifice” and ask the children to list what they would be willing to sacrifice for your family. Now have them list what they would sacrifice for God. Have each of them choose one sacrifice they will make for God during this Christmas season (e.g., serving meals to the poor, giving something they love to someone in need, doing something for another member of the family, etc.). Be sure to follow through with them and help them identify the blessing that will come from their sacrifice.
Seek & Find Answer to the question in the painting above:
The cross of Jesus Christ can be seen on the side of the altar of Abraham’s sacrifice.
Even though Abraham trusted God, it was hard for him and his wife, Sarah, to see how their family could be a blessing to all people when they could not seem to have even one child of their own. But God wanted the world to know this was all His plan, so He waited until they were too old to have children before He worked a miracle and gave them Isaac. Then He did a very strange thing. He asked Abraham to offer Isaac to Him as a sacrifice of worship! Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do a strange thing? Do your parents ever ask you to do something you don’t understand? God already knew Abraham’s heart, but He was testing him. God knew what Abraham would do. Abraham chose to trust when he didn’t understand, and God gave him another sacrifice in Isaac’s place. But God’s plan was much bigger than Abraham’s story. He gave the ram to die so Abraham’s only son could live, just like He would give His Only Son to die so we can live with Him forever.
Today's Prayer Lord God, thank You for the plans You have for my life. I want to learn to choose Your plan instead of mine. Please help me remember if I study your Bible and pray to You each day, I will know how to do what pleases You. Please help me never forget to thank You for the sacrifice You made for me.
Today's Activity: Talk about the meaning of “sacrifice” and ask the children to list what they would be willing to sacrifice for your family. Now have them list what they would sacrifice for God. Have each of them choose one sacrifice they will make for God during this Christmas season (e.g., serving meals to the poor, giving something they love to someone in need, doing something for another member of the family, etc.). Be sure to follow through with them and help them identify the blessing that will come from their sacrifice.
Seek & Find Answer to the question in the painting above:
The cross of Jesus Christ can be seen on the side of the altar of Abraham’s sacrifice.
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