To Know Him

One of the most important truths we can teach our children is that God created them for His pleasure and purpose. Without this understanding, they will think life is about them and everything should conform to their whims and wishes. When suffering or bad things happen, they will be disillusioned and tempted to control as much as they can to suit themselves. The demonstration this month will give you a way to teach your children this important truth: We have been created for God’s purpose.

Scripture Focus

Genesis 1:26-27  “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” 

Revelation 4:15  “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” 

John 17:1-3   “Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.’” 

Supplies:

• 2 2”x4”x6” boards
• 12-16 penny nail
• Any size 2” length philips head screw
• Hammer
• Flathead and philips screwdrivers ( or portable drill with bits) 
• Pliers.

Demonstration

1. Before your study, drive the nail 1/2” into one board and also the screw 1/2” into the same board about 3” apart from one another.
2. Place that board on top of the second board so that when the nail is driven, it will go into the second board. Also place the tools before your audience.
3. First tell them that you are going to teach an important life lesson and that some truths are obvious, yet easily overlooked.
4. Ask a volunteer to come up and try to drive in the nail with the screwdriver and try to drive it in with the pliers or pull out the screw with the pliers. (Stop them after they try it).
5. Then ask them if they think there might be a better way to do it. The answer is obvious: use the tools for the purposes for which they were made. Invite them to drive the nail and screw in the screw with the tool that they think would best accomplish the goal.

Foundational Truth:  You were created and designed to fulfill a unique purpose: to know God and have intimate fellowship with Him.

1. When we use a tool according to its purpose, we experience success and fulfillment with the absence of frustration. As the tool was made to hammer a nail and a philips head screw driver made to drive a screw, so we were made to know and have fellowship with God. Independent of that purpose, we are meaningless and useless.
2. Have someone read the following verses.  Gen. 1:26-27, Rev.4:15, John 17:1-3, and Phil. 3:7-17.  Show how God has revealed clearly why He made all things and His purpose for us, namely, to know Him.
3. We are the only creature with the capacity to experience intimacy and know God and one another. This fact is as obvious as the fact that a hammer is made to drive a nail and a screwdriver made to drive a screw. However, this fact is often overlooked because of sin in our hearts that makes us think we exist for our own pleasure and satisfaction.
4. This capacity to know and fellowship with God comes from being made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). The Godhead isn’t a love triangle, but instead it may help us to understand that the expression and reality of the Father’s and the Son’s relationship is God’s Spirit, the Spirit of love. So to know the Father and Son is to know the Spirit and to have fellowship with the Spirit is to have fellowship with the Father and the Son. Jesus did not say that eternal life is knowing the Father, Son, and Spirit, but knowing the Father and the Son (John 17:3). The only way to know the Father and Son is for the Father and Son to share themselves with His creatures and when that happens, they send the Spirit, which is holy to them. The Holy Spirit manifests and reveals the relationship between the Father and Son so they can be known. This helps us understand the Holy Spirit as the manifestation of the Father and Son whose fruit is love.
5. When something happens unbelievers focus on themselves. They think, “What do I think of feel about this or that?” When something happens to the believer, if we are to function according to our purpose, we should learn to ask the question, “What do the Father and Son feel or think about this or that?” The desire or goal is to know God by experience. This perspective and purpose in life is absolutely foreign to most people-even in the church at large. Understanding this perspective and purpose sets us apart from everyone else.
6. Understanding this truth should also affect all our relationships and activities as well. Understanding that we have the capacity to know God intimately makes us unique as God’s creatures and helps us understand that the shadow of that truth should be seen in our earthly relationships. We have the capacity to know and be known, to know another person intimately. Therefore, truly knowing someone is a high priority in relationships. We want to know them so we can know God more intimately.

Application

During the next week, I encourage you to practice asking God when things happen, “Father, please reveal yourself to me in this relationship or situation. What do you want me to learn about you? What are your thoughts in regard to this event or person?” Each day at a meal, family devotions, or when putting the children to bed, remind them of this week’s lesson and ask what they have learned about God and about Jesus Christ. Share with them what you have learned by sharing specific experiences you had during the day when you sought to learn something about Him.

When we understand our primary purpose in life is to know the Father and Son and walk in fellowship with God in every instance, we view every situation and relationship differently. It’s no longer about us and every situation and relationship is meaningful and beneficial. I hope this has been a helpful lesson for you and your family, reminding you of your purpose for existing, namely, to please and know God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son.