Articles and Ideas for You and Your Family!
God Is Our Father
Win the “Teacher-of-Life” Award
Topic
Who Is God?
God is. God always was and always will be. Before anything existed, there was God. He made the heavens, the earth, and everything in, on, above, and beneath the earth (Genesis 1:1). And He made all living creatures, including us.
God is incredible. He is everywhere—He fills heaven and earth. He can do anything—His power is without limit. He knows everything—He is wisdom personified. In fact, He knows everything that goes on every second everywhere in the universe, including every event in every individual’s life.
God is love. Everything He does and says is shaped by love. He created people to be His children. He wants to be our Father and love, guide, protect, teach, and provide for us.
God Is the Foundation
Knowing who God is makes all the difference. Your children won’t want to know and draw near to God if they don’t believe that He loves them unconditionally, that they can trust Him completely, and that He will take care of their needs. Knowing this gives them the assurance they will be welcomed, just as Jesus welcomed the children when He was here on Earth (Matthew 19:13–15). Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all of who we are. Doing this brings us the greatest blessing: an intimate, wonderful relationship with our loving Father.
It is crucial that children understand that God cannot be a mere addendum to their lives, a side dish they can nibble from whenever they feel like it. He must be the main course. It is God who gives sustenance, spiritual and emotional health, confidence to face what life brings, and wisdom to deal with it.
Knowing God Shapes Our Worldview
Who your children believe God to be shapes how they approach life. If they understand God’s character and love for them, prayer and Bible reading will become things they want to do because they will want to know Him more. These practices will become strong pillars they build their lives on. God’s principles will govern their actions. This is what we must steer our children toward. We must build the truth into them—the understanding and conviction that God is love, that He cares about them, and that they can trust Him and His word.
But children need more than head knowledge. Just knowing who God is, is not enough (see James 2:19). They must know who He is in relation to them. They must understand how His character affects them. For example, because God is all-powerful, He can help them with their problems. Because He is all-knowing, He can give them wisdom and knowledge of what to do in various situations. Because He is everywhere, they are never alone. And because He is love, He wants to help them, give them wisdom, be with them, and provide for their needs. Who God is must affect how your children live.
Places to Model It!
Here are some suggestions for where this knowledge of God as Father can be modeled to your children. You will find many others.
Let the importance of your relationship with God show. Your children need to know that your life—the decisions you make, your words and actions—are based on God and His Word. Don’t just tell your children about God, show them that He is real in your life. Let them see you praying and reading the Bible. Talk naturally and casually about your relationship with God, what you are learning from Him, and how He is working in your life. Let your love of God show. By demonstrating how God is the foundation for your life, you establish a solid, positive groundwork for your children’s attitude toward Him.
Let your children see your habit of prayer as you continually go to God to help you solve problems and care for your family. Make it an ordinary thing to stop and pray when you are trying to solve a problem, choose meals, or spend money.
Go to God when you are making family decisions, such as getting a job, buying a house or car, choosing a church, or deciding where to go on vacation. Let your children be part of the decision-making process.
Include God anytime you are giving or receiving advice, disciplining your children, or just driving in the car. For example, if your child is caught in a lie, refer to Bible verses on truth as part of the discipline process.
Tips to Teach It!
Key Verse
“‘And what is eternal life? It is knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’” (John 17:3)
Key Bible Story
God is always here, right under our noses. And yet, we can get so busy with church, school, family, and other activities that we forget the most important thing—knowing God. We’re not the only ones who have this problem. The disciples had trouble seeing God too—and He was right there among them as a man! Read John 14:1–31 with your children and discuss the following questions.
How do we get to God, our Father?
What must we have so that we can do what Jesus did?
What must we do to show that we love God?
Teachable Moments
Here are some places in life to teach your children who God is.
Use the things your children are passionate about, concerned about, or interested in, to direct them to God. For example, if your son is good at baseball or music, talk to him about how God gives everyone a unique set of gifts and talents to be used in different areas. Perhaps you can pray together before or after his games or recitals, thanking God for the gifts He has given your son, and asking Him to help your child learn more and do well.
When your children are anxious about something—such as a part in a play or a problem with a friend—help them trust God to provide the wisdom to work things out. Here is a simple step-by-step approach:
– Find out your children’s problem or concern.
– Tell your children to put the concern in God’s hands and trust Him to take care of it.
– Tell your children why we can trust God: because He loves us and wants the best for us.
– Help your children pray about the concern, and then leave it in God’s hands.
– When the answer to your children’s prayer comes, point it out.
– Encourage your children to add prayers about this situation to their prayer list on an ongoing basis until the matter is resolved.
Tools to Do It!
1. Characteristics of God
God is amazing: He is everywhere, He can do anything, and He knows everything. Use the simple definitions below to explain these amazing characteristics of God to your children.
God Is Omnipotent [om NIP oh tent]
God can do anything and everything He wants. He’s omnipotent—all powerful. He spoke and the universe was created! “Great is our Lord. His power is mighty. . . . You have made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too hard for you. . . . ‘With man, that is impossible. But with God, all things are possible’” (Psalm 147:5; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26).
God Is Omnipresent [om nee PRES ent]
God is everywhere. Find that hard to believe? Think about it like this: You have limits; you fill a certain space and have edges separating you from your surroundings. Everything has limits. Except God. The Bible tells us God is omnipresent—present everywhere. He fills the universe. Go anywhere, and God is already there! “‘Can anyone hide in secret places so that I can’t see him? . . . Don’t I fill heaven and earth?’” (Jeremiah 23:24).
God Is Omniscient [om NISH unt]
You know things and you learn more every day at school and at home. Everyone learns—except God. He is omniscient—He knows everything. From what you like for breakfast, to how to make a planet, to what unborn people will do, God knows it all. “The Lord knows what people think. . . . There is no limit to his understanding. . . . He even counts every hair on your head! . . . Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything” (Psalm 94:11; 147:5; Matthew 10:30; Hebrews 4:13).
2. Scriptures About God’s Character
Many passages in the Bible tell us about God, what He loves, what He hates, and how He acts. Below are a number of Bible verses that describe God’s character. Share them with your children, and have them memorize the verses so that God’s love will never be more than a thought away. As you teach your children what God is like, let them know that God does not change, He is always the same and can be counted on absolutely. “I am the Lord. I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). “Every good and perfect gift is from God. It comes down from the Father. He created the heavenly lights. He does not change like shadows that move” (James 1:17).
God Is True and Honest
“‘And what is eternal life? It is knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’” (John 17:3)
“We also know that the Son of God has come. He has given us understanding. Now we can know the One who is true. And we belong to the One who is true. We also belong to his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God. He is eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)
God Is Loving and Compassionate
“As he passed in front of Moses, he called out. He said, ‘I am the Lord, the Lord. I am a God who is tender and kind. I am gracious. I am slow to get angry. I am faithful and full of love.’” (Exodus 34:6)
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
God Is Generous and Selfless
“‘Put me to the test,’ says the Lord. ‘Then you will see that I will throw open the windows of heaven. I will pour out so many blessings that you will not have enough room for them.’” (Malachi 3:10)
“God did not spare his own Son. He gave him up for us all. Then won’t he also freely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32)
God Is Forgiving and Merciful
“I will praise the Lord. I won’t forget anything he does for me. He forgives all my sins. He heals all my sicknesses.” (Psalm 103:2–3)
“You are the Lord our God. You show us your tender love. You forgive us. But we have turned against you.” (Daniel 9:9)
God Is Trustworthy and Faithful
“Lord and King, you are God! Your words can be trusted. You have promised many good things to me.” (2 Samuel 7:28)
“So I want you to realize that the Lord your God is God. He is the faithful God. He keeps his covenant for all time to come. He keeps it with those who love him and obey his commands. He shows them his love.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
God Is Just and Impartial
“He is the Rock. His works are perfect. All of his ways are right. He is faithful. He doesn’t do anything wrong. He is honest and fair.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)
“Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. The way he judges is true and fair.” (Revelation 19:1–2)
God Is Holy
“You must be holy. You must be set apart to me. I am the Lord. I am holy.” (Leviticus 20:26)
“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who rules over all. He was, and he is, and he will come.’” (Revelation 4:8)
Taken from the book Your Child and the Christian Life
