"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Peter 3:15
The children have been working for awhile on memorizing James 1, and they're almost finished! I've been studying that Chapter in my own Bible Study time, primarily using our Matthew Henry Commentary, and I have a LOT of notes.:) Thinking of the above verse, we played a great game this morning. I played the part of one of their friends (we assumed I was a Christian), and as I would make statements about my life and struggles, the children would have to refer to a specific verse from James 1 that would refute my conclusions. It was amazing to listen to what responses they could give from MEMORY. But, why bother? Here's why...
1) How many Christians actually KNOW what God's Word says? How many times have you heard from a Christian friend thoughts about God that are completely unscriptural? You know they're wrong, but you don't know what Scriptures to refer to in God's Word.
2) How often have you heard Christians justify sin using God's Word? Or even worse, justifying sin by stating that they are the exceptions to God's Word, and God "understands" what they're doing.
3) Have you ever heard a Christian declare that God's Word isn't relevant to what he/she is facing, or how unfair God is to bring this trial to his/her life?
The examples are numerous. I wanted the children to pretend I was a "Christian" because not only do they need to give an answer for the hope that is within them to the lost in the world, but they need to be prepared, especially, to encounter many nominal Christians, and to hopefully, spur such Christians on to a deeper knowledge of God's Word, and to applying the truths of God's Word to every area of life, that they might have hope, too. This was a wonderful method of seeing if our children could make the connections and actually apply the Scriptures that they have hidden in their heart.
Why do you have hope when everything around you is falling apart? Why can you be JOYFUL in the midst of this trial? Why can't you blame God for your falling into this sin? Why would God bring this trial to me? Why can't I be proud of my riches? Why can I rejoice even though I am not materially wealthy? Why can't I say what I want and how I want? These are just a few of the questions that can be discussed just from James 1. The children and I had a fun time role-playing, and they were eager for more and more questions. So, I'm sure this "game" will be a permanent part of our Morning Time, and may God use it equip us to be "ready to give an answer."
Love,
Queen Mom
