Part 1: Be Careful Little Eyes and Ears | FUN Ways to Teach Kid's How to Resist Temptation
Be Careful Little Eyes and Ears
The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:22-23
What an incredible symbolism used in the above verse. Literally if our eye is unhealthy we are subjected to darkness, or blindness. No other part of the body can assist in bringing in light. We must resort to relying on other parts to assist in moving around without causing ourselves injury. The other options in no way make up for the loss of light even though they can help as you move from space to space. In the same manner, when one is spiritually sick, handicapped or blind, despair, depression and despondency will so easily set in. One becomes blind to the victory God has in store, to the happiness that is just within reach if we would only trust in God.
Having a healthy eye does not mean that you will have a complete revelation of God’s plan. Or He will let me see my way clear from beginning to end. For if He did, then what is the purpose of faith. Spiritual sight is that firm belief in what God said, completely trusting His word and doing He commands even when you cannot see.
Perhaps one of the greatest examples of spiritual blindness that we may witness is our children willingly or intentionally make mistakes that we know will lead to harm and disappointment. Allow peers to lead them astray, taking something that does not belong to them, lying even though it is obvious that they cannot get away with it. Some may pass this off as growing pains or say they will grow out of it, but being slack about spiritual pitfalls is no dismissing matter. We must teach them God’s word so that his light fills their entire body, every aspect of their lives should be viewed from the perspective of how best would this please God.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
But what about those times when I am talking to God and purposely growing my relationship with him and I still don’t know what to do? What about when I am teaching my children God’s word and it seems like I am talking to a brick wall or a thorn bush. In times like those, the above verse gives me such comfort. In the context of not being able to see how God is blessing or understand his plan, this verse speaks to an intimate Guide. It says your ears will hear a voice. I imagine that God is right next to me whispering in my ear, “Go left my child” or “Now turn right.” I love that imagery. To me it means He is never far from me, He can catch me if I falter. It means I am not alone no matter when my eyes see or my feelings may portray.
Oh what lessons of faith our children could learn but if we as parents truly walked in faith, trusting in God. Their ears were designed to hear God. Teaching them their ears were especially made to discern the voice of God gives greater purpose and meaning to what they listen to. Proverbs 20:12 says “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.”
Illustration Tip: Set up for a race. On the course there are obstacles so that you cannot get to the finish line by walking a straight line. Have about 4-5 of children line up in a row blindfolded. It could be more but you don’t want the group to be big. An adult or older child will stand behind the blindfolded children. The trick is the teams of two and close to each other and the other teams, making it difficult to hear if one is not paying attention to the team mate. On “GO” the one behind must guide the child by only saying left or right. The child will always walk forward unless they are told to turn left or right. Everyone must make it to the finish line.
Through this illustration you teach them how we must tune our ears to hear God’s voice and not listen to the voice of others. We must know what God said and do it even when we cannot see or when we don’t understand how it will benefit us. We are to please God by our faith and obedience for He is always with us never forsaking.
Here are a few FUN ways to teach your children to resist temptation and walk in obedience to God:
Read children's Bible stories about temptation. Discuss whether or not the person overcame or fell into temptation. Some examples of these kids Bible stories are the temptation Adam and Eve, the temptation of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abidnigo, and the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.
Teach children Bible verses about resisting temptation. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, he used Scripture to resist temptation. Help the children to memorize Scripture so they have the right tools to fight off temptation.
Use FUN illustrations. Bring the resisting temptation lesson to life by playing games or doing Bible crafts and activities.
Remind your children that temptation happens, but with God, you can remain faithful and obedient. How do you teach your children to resist temptation?
Listen to Bible Time's Song, "Oh Be Careful Little Eyes." Also, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more FUN Bible songs for kids!
Check out the other posts and FREE resources in the Oh Be Careful Series:
Part 1: Be Careful Little Eyes and Ears
Part 5: Be Careful Little Mind
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