Dressed for War

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 6:10-18

TO CHEW ON: "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:11


Why would anyone choose to wear a hot bullet-proof vest, a stiff camouflage uniform, a heavy helmet, weighty steel-toed boots, an uncomfortable gas mask and on top of all that carry a cumbersome weapon and ammunition? Only someone who needed a lot of protection - like a soldier in war.


Everything a soldier wears helps protect him from the enemy. His camouflage uniform makes it easy for him to hide. His helmet, vest and boots protect his head, chest and feet. His gas mask filters out poison or germs from the air. His weapon helps him defend himself or even take more land for his country.

Christians have to be just as prepared to fight against the devil. But what exactly are we fighting against? (Ephesians 6:12) We are not fighting against a]_____ but against the b]_____, against the c]_____ against the d]_____ and against the e]_____.

"The Armor of God" - Artist unknown, Lillie A. Faris, Standard Bible Story Readers, 1925-28

It sounds scary. But God gives us spiritual armor to use. What part of your armor have you put on by doing the following (Ephesians 6:14-17):
1. Do you live by truth not lies and deceit? _____
2. Are you careful to live in ways that are right? _____
3. Are you willing and eager to tell people about Jesus? _____
4. Are you trusting that God is with you and is helping you? _____
5. Have you asked Jesus into your life and accepted salvation? _____
6. Do you love and memorize God’s word? _____

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to put on Your armor and then live in alertness, always ready to ask for Your help. Amen.

MORE: Dress Protected
War isn’t the only time people need to wear clothing that protects them. Match the protective clothing with the people who would wear it.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
1. Padding to protect much of the body, and a helmet. ____

2. A suit that covers every part of your body and face, and gloves. ____

3. A pressurized body suit which provides you with oxygen. ____

4. A net over your face and neck, a coverall and gloves. ____

5. A mask covering your mouth and nose, a gown and gloves. ____

PEOPLE NEEDING PROTECTION
A. Beekeeper
B. Doctor or Nurse
C. Astronaut
D. Scientist in a germ lab
E. Hockey or Football Player

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Your Best

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 6:6-9

TO CHEW ON:"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does." Ephesians 6:7,9

“No TV until your room is clean,” Mom announces one Saturday morning.


Your room is a total mess. After you spend a few minutes trying to tidy it, you know it’s hopeless. So you take everything that’s cluttering up your floor and desk, and either slip it under the bed or pile it in the closet. Once you’ve closed the closet door and made your bed, your room looks great. Everyone is impressed - until Mom inspects it. In no time you’re back in your room and hard at work!

Though we may sometimes get away with doing a half-hearted job for people, we can never fool God. He sees our attitude and knows if we’ve really done our best.

When we do our best, we may not get compliments and thanks from people. But God sees and someday He’ll reward us for jobs well done. Knowing He is watching is the best reason to do our best in everything.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to do everything for Your praise and to hear Your “Thank you”. Amen.



MORE: Hidden Jobs
There are many jobs which aren’t public and which don’t get people’s public thanks or praise. Match behind-the-scenes workers with the people or group of people they will help.



WORKERS
1. Person stocking shelves ____
2. Air traffic controller ____
3. Janitor ____
4. Cook ____
5. Factory seamstress ____
6. 9-1-1 Dispatcher ____

WHO THEY HELP
a. people going out to eat at a restaurant or cafeteria
b. shoppers
c. ambulance and police drivers, people in an accident
d. school students, office workers, hospital patients
e. pilots and people who need to fly somewhere
f. people who buy clothes

ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

BIG Love

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 3:14-21

TO CHEW ON: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." Ephesians 3:17b,18

• The highest mountain on earth is 29,0781 feet above sea level. What is its name?

a) Mt. McKinley
b) Mt. Everest
c) Mt. K2

• The deepest ocean trench is over 36,0002 feet under the sea. What is its name?

a) Mariana Trench
b) Japan Trench
c) Aleutian Trench

• The largest ocean covers 64.23 million square miles. It is the

a) Atlantic Ocean
b) Arctic Ocean
c) Pacific Ocean

Does something in your life seem too big for you to handle? Remember, God cares about you and your problems. His love is bigger than any love you will ever know.

• It is higher than the highest mountain (Mount Everest - 5½ miles high)
• It is deeper than the deepest ocean valley (Mariana Trench - 6½ miles deep)
• It is wider and longer than the largest ocean (Pacific Ocean - 64.2 million square miles).

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to know and trust Your high, deep, wide and long love for me. Amen.


MORE: big, BIGGER, BIGGEST
How many more biggest things can you find?
1. The biggest land animal:

2. The biggest sea animal:

3. The biggest bird:

4. The biggest insect:

5. The highest waterfall:

6.

7.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Unique Invention

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Ephesians 2:1-10

TO CHEW ON: "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Think back through the last 24 hours. What things have you used in that time which someone once had to invent, design and make? For example did you ride a bike, wash with a bar of soap, use a computer, send a text message on a cell phone, load a dishwasher? Make a list.


Just think – not one of the things you listed came into being on its own. Someone had to think of, design and put together each of these things to do their special job..


The same is true about you. You are not only the physical child of your parents but also God’s unique invention. God thought of you, then designed and brought you into the world. You are here to do things no one else can do as well as you can.



Paul tells the Christians at Ephesus about this in his letter called Ephesians. He calls them “God’s workmanship.” He reminds them, and us, that after we invite Jesus into our lives, God has a special job for us. He will make us into the person who can do the good works God planned for us to do before we were ever born.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to do the good things I was created to do. Amen.


MORE: Inventions

1. Find out how some of these things came to be invented:

bicycle    skateboard     skates
computer       video games
compact disks (CDs)    television

2. Invent something of your own using your favorite kind of building toys (Lego™, Meccano™, K’NEX™ etc.).
- What can it do?

- How does it work?

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.