Cross and Candle

The Third Commandment - God's Yes

All you need for this devotion is to have in mind an exercise such as jumping jacks or sit ups, something appropriate to the age of your children but something new they, perhaps, need to practice and a good space to do the exercise in.  Also, have a favorite Bible passage in mind such as John 3:16 or Colossians 3:16 or Luke 11:28.

1. Gather with your children at the kitchen table or a coffee table.

2. Set up your cross and light your candle and say to the children:  The Bible says that Jesus is the Light of the world.

3. Light the candle and recite this litany with children echoing the words:

• Light takes away darkness
• Jesus is the Light
• Because He takes away
• The darkness of sin.

4. Review the Third Commandment with your children.  Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.  Have the children repeat it to you a couple of times.

5. Tell the children that the way we keep this commandment is by knowing and reading God's Word and doing what it says.  We should "practice" God's Word--that's what keeps His Word holy means.

6. "Just like anything else, if we want to learn something new we need to practice it.  Let's practice a new exercise."

7. Show the children how to do the chosen exercise and then start to "practice" it.  Ask them how many practices they think it would take before they're really good at it and do that many.  Remember--we might need to practice again tomorrow and other days if we want to be experts.

8. After a rest, tell the children that it's the same with God's Word.  In order to keep it holy, we need to read it and practice learning it as well as practice doing it.

9. Spend some time studying and practicing the Bible passage you chose.  Practice until you can all say it for memory.  Talk about how you might put the passage into practice in a practical way.

10. Review the Bible passage in the future and you might even see if the children want to practice a new exercise or a new Bible passage.  Learning and practicing God's Word keeps it holy.

Sing together:

     Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Repeat

     When I feel afraid, think I've lost my way, 

     Still You're there right beside me.

     And nothing will I fear as long as You are near.

     Please be near me to the end.

     Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Repeat

Prayer:

     Dear Father, You have given me Your Word to gude me all my life until I reach heaven.  Your Word teaches me about Jesus.  Help me always to love and keep your Word.  Amen.