FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “I Can’t Do It Myself”

Supplies: Bible

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I worked at a daycare for several years during college, and each class has a cute name based on developmental skills common to that age group.  While I’ve forgotten most of them over the years, I can still remember the two-year old group: “Do It Myself!”  How true is that!  Parents, I’m sure you remember that age, right?  When your little ones started to learn how to do those basic life skills, like putting on pants or climbing into their seats?  They got so excited that they could finally navigate this small section of life on their own that they just wanted to show you over and over and over.  And if you tried to step in and assist, you got the beat down. “No, Daddy, I can do it myself!”  At times it was hard to remember that this independent streak was a good thing and would go on to help make them strong, functioning adults who could contribute to society.

Do remember finally learning how to do something yourself?  Do you remember the pride that came with finding victory in that task?  Did you beam from ear to ear when you finally figured out how to button your shirt?  Did you drive your parents crazy turning the light switches on and off when you were finally tall enough to reach them?  In truth, this doesn’t stop with childhood.  Think about it--how many people did you brag to when you figured out all of the iPhone hacks, huh?  Pick one skill you remember mastering and share how it felt with your family.  What do they remember about that “achievement” in your life? 

READ

Read Galatians 3:1-4 together.  Depending on your translation, the wording in this passage can be a little tough to dig through.  Here’s how The Message reads:

You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.

2-4 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

THINK

The Galatians were getting a bit of a talking to by Paul, weren’t they?  You see, the believers at this church had started their journey with Jesus like everyone does.  They had figured out that there was no way they could be reconnected with God by following the Law.  Doing it by themselves, “working their heads off to please God” wasn’t working; it was just too hard to obey all of those rules all of the time.   Like the rest of us, they needed Jesus’ forgiveness through His grace that He showed by dying for us on the cross.  

Now one of the coolest things about life with Jesus is that it doesn’t stop after that forgiveness is given.  He sends us the Holy Spirit to help us grow even closer to God through holiness.  The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us get over our selfish tendencies and become more giving, which is great, because we can have a lot more joy in our lives when we stop worrying about where our stuff is and if we have the biggest and the best around.  The Holy Spirit also teaches us to be content and satisfied no matter what’s going on.  Another great thing, because life’s a whole lot better when we’re not all frustrated and pouty every time life isn’t what we planned.  

These are just two examples, but already I’m sure you can tell that we need heavenly help to grow like this!  Unfortunately, the Galatians forgot.  They went back to that independent nature and tried to learn these holy characteristics through the Law and their own will power.  And, no surprise, it was blowing up in their faces!  People just can’t do these things without the help of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  (If we could, the world would be a much better place, don’t you think?)  Paul was writing to this church to help get them back on track.  He reminded them that just like they couldn’t have started their journey without Jesus, they sure couldn’t finish it without Him either.

APPLY

While our independent nature can be very valuable when we're growing up, it can mess us up in our relationship with God.  We get so proud when we accomplish something on our own—tying shoes, mastering math facts, or changing a tire.  We want that same feeling when it comes to learning to be like Jesus.  We try to learn how to be unselfish.  We try to practice contentment.  We leave the house in the morning determined that today we will love everybody.  And we fail.  Every. Time.  Because it’s just too hard to do on our own!

Paul and Jesus both want us to stop being so independent and learn how to be completely dependent on the Holy Spirit.  We need to lean on him and ask him to help us do the things we learn about at church and when we read the Bible.  When lunch rolls around and there's only one piece of pizza left, we need to ask the Holy Spirit help us not be selfish.  When the one thing we really, really, really wanted isn't under the Christmas tree, we need to pray for that contentment.  When the first person we see after leaving the house is the person who hates us most, we will absolutely need Holy Spirit help if we're going to even come close to being loving.  As much as we may want to be like Jesus, we just CAN’T do it ourselves.  We need help!

What are you trying to do for God in your own strength…and likely failing?  In what area(s) are you turning to your heavenly Father and saying, “I can do it myself!”  This is a great time to share with your family, because their prayers and encouragement, along with their accountability, can really help you ditch your independence and learn to look to the Holy Spirit for your success.  End your time together by praying for each area of dependence.

PRAY

Heavenly Father, thank you for your many gifts to us.  You gave us Jesus so that we could know you, and you gave us your Holy Spirit so that we could grow to be like Jesus.  Help us learn to depend, not on ourselves and our own gifts, but on you and your gifts. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

REPLY

Did you and your family enjoy this devotional blog?  We'd love to know about it!  Our hope is to continue providing this weekly opportunity for families to do a devotion together.  If your family did this devotion, please shoot us an email, text or just post a comment to this blog.

Saturday Readings

Luke 10:1-24 (NIV)

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two^[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Tuesday Readings

• Luke 7:18-35 (NIV) 

Jesus and John the Baptist 

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you, 

and you did not dance; 

we sang a dirge, 

and you did not cry.’ 

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

• John 15:16 (NIV)

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

• Matthew 28:19 (NIV) 

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

• John 8:31-32 (NIV) 

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Monday Reading

• Luke 7:18-35 (NIV) 

Jesus and John the Baptist 

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you, 

and you did not dance; 

we sang a dirge, 

and you did not cry.’ 

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

• John 13:16 (NIV) 

16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

• John 15:20 (NIV) 

20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

• Matthew 25:40 (NIV) 

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’