Family Devotions, 1st - 4th Grade - Lay it on the altar.

FOR STARTERS:
Place a stuffed animal by the fireplace or on the coffee table. Talk about how much it would hurt the owner of that toy to have it sacrificed or burned up. Let other family members talk about those things that would be hard to offer up as a sacrifice on the altar. Ask everyone, “What would be the hardest single thing to give up by laying it on the altar?” Don’t just think about things. Consider relationships or people that would be hard to let go. Do you think God asks you to give those to him?

READ THE BIBLE:
Read in Genesis 22 how Abraham offers Isaac as a sacrifice.

KEY VERSES:
Romans 12:1: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him.” 1John 3:16a: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” (NIV)

TALK ABOUT IT:

• What did God tell Abraham to do that seemed strange? (Sacrifice Isaac.)
  
• Just when Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac, what happened? (God told him to stop. God provided a ram.)
  
• Why do you think God did this to Abraham? (To test him and see how much he trusted God.)
  
• God also laid his Son on the altar. It wasn’t an altar like Abraham built out of stone. Jesus’ altar was the cross. On the cross, Jesus was sacrificed to pay the price for our sins. Did Jesus do this willingly? (Yes!)
  
• Jesus gave his life as a living sacrifice for us. Jesus laid down his life but he did not stay dead. He rose from the dead. Now he promises to be with anyone who trusts him as the one who rescues them from their sin.
  
• God also wants us to be living sacrifices. (See Romans 12:1.) How do we do that?
  
• Is there someone you know who doesn’t know how Jesus gave his life as a living sacrifice for all of us? Whose job is it to share that message of Jesus?
  

PRAYER POWER:
Pray to reaffirm your relationship with Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways you can be a living sacrifice for God. Pray for others who need to meet Jesus as the one who laid his life on the altar for them.

Family Time Option
One day this week, try…
As parents, bless your children at night when you put them to bed. Pray over them, releasing them to the Lord’s care. They already belong to the Lord. They are simply on loan to you so that you might help them grow up and be firm in their relationship with Christ. As you release them to the Lord, he will bless you to receive an even deeper relationship with your children.