FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “The Worth of a Man”

Supplies: Bible

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Do you have a favorite outfit, some article of clothing that makes you feel like a million bucks?  I don’t care how old you are, whether you’re a guy or a girl, I’m betting there’s something in your dresser or closet that ranks number one on your personal fashion list.  Have you had an outfit that just made you feel like Cinderella’s better-looking sister?  Some article of clothing that made you a dead ringer for Brad Pitt?  Whether it’s an outfit from days gone by or it’s hanging in your closet right now, share your number one ensemble with your family.

I remember my first “favorite outfit.”  I was in junior high and was figuring out that there was a difference between cool clothes and not cool clothes.  I had some birthday money, so I went to the most popular clothing store in the mall and bought an outfit straight off the mannequin.  Shirt, other shirt (layering was big in the 80’s), 4-inch wide white vinyl belt, stirrup pants (don’t judge, they were cool then), scrunch socks, even the bracelet and huge beaded necklaces.  All in gold and turquoise.  (Hey, I said don’t judge!)  I felt FAB-U-LOUS!  Every time I wore it, I felt I looked sheik, so I wore it as often as I could.  School, church, parties, to the movies, to the mall.  In fact, it made me feel so fantastic, I didn’t even realize when the shirts started to fade and the pants began to pill.  The right outfit can do wonders!  I overlooked the chipped paint on the bracelet and the scratches on the belt because I loved it so much.  I will never forget that day when I overheard someone whispering to someone else about the tattered state of my favorite ensemble.  I was crushed!  My self-worth went from fabulous to flatline.

READ

Read Genesis 37 together.  Paraphrase for younger children. 

THINK

This coat of Joseph’s was a big deal!  It was a major piece of fashion, not something his stinky, dirty shepherd brothers would even think of wearing.  The coat combined with the favoritism from his father AND the leadership visions from God must have made Joseph feel like he could rule the world!  They certainly gave him the confidence to tattle on his brothers.  (Whoops!)  So how did he react when It all came crashing down?  What did Joseph do when his brothers let their anger and jealousy get the better of them and sold him into slavery for 20 shekels of silver.  (That wasn’t even the standard 30 shekels that slaves were “worth”—they sold him for a bargain price!)  Joseph went from being a posh prince to a reduced-rate reject, yet he never lost his connection to God.  We’ll be digging deep into the in’s and out’s of Joseph’s life over the next several weeks, but one thread you’ll find is that Joseph based his real worth in his relationship with God.  His brothers may have treated him like Clearance Clarence, but Joseph knew he had value as a Child of God.

APPLY

There are a lot of things that threaten to flatline our self-worth.  Catty comments from a neighbor, teasing at school, one harsh criticism from someone in your home—it can tear you down.  It’s easy to start feeling like Clearance Clarence, not worth much of anything.  Those feelings are powerful and can drag you down if you’re not careful.  That’s why it’s so important to remember how much you really are worth.  Remember: you were bought at an incredibly high price!  Jesus paid through the nose for you!  Technically, He paid through the hands and feet for you.  He used His own blood as payment for you, that’s how valuable you are to Him.  No matter what others may say or how they may treat you, be like Joseph and hold fast to the knowledge that you have incredible value as a Child of the One True King!  

PRAY

Precious Jesus, You have given us so much!  Wonderful families, a loving church, even cool clothes.  It’s easy to think that our worth comes in those things.  Please help us remember that all that we are can be found in You and You alone.  You gave up everything for us, and we are forever thankful.  In Your Name we pray, Amen.

REPLY

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