As we approach Easter, one thing that is on my mind are the choices Jesus made. He chose to come to earth. He chose to live a simple life. He chose Judas to be an apostle, knowing what he would one day do. He chose to go to the Garden of Gethsemane that night, knowing what would unfold. And He chose to surrender Himself and endure everything evil could throw at Him. He chose at every step to do the will of the Father and save us. He didn’t have to. But He loved the Father and He loved us, so He chose the hard way.
When children are babies, it’s easy for them to associate love with snuggles and oohs and aahs over their every accomplishment, but as they start to grow older, it’s important to help them see that love isn’t just a feeling. It’s a choice, one they can make every moment of every day. They can choose to love their sibling and not lash out at them. They can choose to obey mom or dad. They can choose to do the right thing when they don’t think anyone is looking or when they feel like no one will care. They can choose the right way because they love God and love the people in their lives. And they can get all the help and strength they need to make the hard choices from God because He loves them and knows all about making the hard choices.
Help the children in your life learn Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters,” and Deuteronomy 6:5, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (KJV) with these fun Bible verse puzzles and activities.