Vacation Bible School Devotional Day 4

Day 4:
Bible Point: Jesus gives us the power to live forever.
Power Verse: “Since I live, you also will live.” John 14:19
Bible Story: Jesus dies and comes back to life. Luke 23:26-24:53
When I was watching Chadder’s Theater this week something Smardley said struck a cord with me. Smardly said he wanted to take the invincibility formula so that no one can hurt him. Isn’t that the truth! I would love there to be some magic drink that I could take so that no one could ever hurt me. Sometimes people physically hurt me, others it’s through their words or actions. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a few kids about when their friends tell on them. They are really hurt by their friends actions, and are angry about it. By the end of our conversation we learn that they are really angry because they’re disappointed in themselves. They also realize that their friends want the best for them and want to help them when they’re in trouble. Big AHA! moment for them. To know that someone loves them enough to risk everything for them. They learn that there’s no magic formula only the love of their friends.
So that desire for eternal life for Smardly…. We know that it’s through the power of Jesus that we can be with Him forever. He tells us so. But this is such a hard thing for a little kids mind to wrap around. When their family pet dies or someone they know – that person / pet is gone forever. Now we’re telling them that even though they’re gone, they really aren’t gone. We just have to be patient with them and explain to them in their words how this happens and why. The important part is the why. God loves us so much that He doesn’t want to be away from us for even a moment. When we sin, we’re away from God. God gave us Jesus as a way to be with him. Through Jesus dying for our sins, and coming back to life we can come back to a life with God. We can be with God always. Sin isn’t just about doing something wrong. It’s about being away from God. Repentance – asking for forgiveness and making the decision to change is the only way to cancel out that sin, and this can only happen through Jesus. God loves us so much that he wants us to be squinchy, squinchy with him at all times (think about when you were sitting in the pews for the storm and the kids were all sitting almost on top of you – that squinchy squinchy). He wants to be so close to us that we are never without Him. What a great gift! To be with God always! What a wonderful act of His love. To give us Jesus, even though we’re the ones who sinned. When you get a moment (and there should b a lot of them) just tell God how great a guy his is for giving his son for us! I’m totally loving this awesome God of ours right now! Might have to get up and sing or something!