Prepare for Obedience

Before the devotion: Adults, set out any type of sweet (marshmallow, candy, or chocolate) and ask the kids not to eat it and for them to trust you that they should not eat the sweet. Leave the room for a few minutes.  

Return to the room with another sweet.  

If your child has eaten the sweet, let them know that you had a second one for them, but since they did not trust you, you cannot reward them with the sweet. If your child did not eat the sweet give them the second sweet as a reward for trusting you.  

Adults ask kids: What made it hard not to eat the sweet? Why did you eat the sweets, or why did you choose not to eat the sweets? 

Kids ask adults: Why did you not tell me that I would get a second sweet if I did not eat the first ones? 

It is hard to obey sometimes. We want what we want, and most of the time, the things we want are now. From the very first people, Adam and Eve, to now, we have all been disobeying God because we want what we do not have. 

Read Genesis 22:1-3, “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.” 

How is Abraham being obedient to God? 

How is Isaac being obedient to his father? 

Isaac witnessed his father, Abraham, being obedient to God. In turn Isaac was being obedient to his father and also being obedient to God. Isaac trusted his father because Abraham trusted God. Both were obedient to Him. 

Why is it sweeter to be obedient than disobedient?