As a follow up to previous blog entries, I asked my oldest daughter an important ‘Why’ question today that I think we all need to reflect upon.  I asked her “Why did Jesus die?”  Here is her response… To save the world (us) from our sins.  To die on the cross.  And to rise again.  So we can be in heaven with Him.    (From the mouth of a 5 year old!)  

 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  ‘Father, save me from this hour?’  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name!”  These are Jesus’ words in John 12:27-28 when He was speaking of His death.  In C.J. Mahaney’s book, Living the Cross Centered Life, he states that Jesus was not “surprised by death’s approach.  He long ago determined to bear God’s judgement for sin as our substitute, and for months He ..discussed His death repeatedly with His disciples.”  Christ knew why He was sent, why He was here – His purpose.  In Mark 10:45, Jeus tells us that “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”  He knew that there was no other way for us to be reconciled with God.  Our debt had to be paid and only He, the sinless One, could pay it.  He lovingly laid down His life for us, taking on our sins and unrighteousness and thus the wrath and abandonment by His Father — that we rightly deserve. 

Mahaney states, “Behold Him…behold His suffering…and recognize His love.” 

Thank You.  Thank You, Lord Jesus.  May I never lose sight of You and Your sacrifice for me.

It is important to tell and remind children why we instruct them in certain ways.  Just as we look to the Bible to see which instructions we need to give our children and for guidance on how to train them, we can look to God’s Word to help us explain the ‘whys’ behind the instructions.  Here are a few examples from Scripture where God clearly answers this ‘why’ question for us.

• “Children obey your parents” 
  Why?   “for this pleases the Lord.”     Colossians 3:20
• “Honor your father and mother”
  Why?   “—which is the first commandment with a promise— that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”   Ephesians 6:2-3
• “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”
  Why?  “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of truth…”   Philippians 2:14-16a
• “Give thanks to the Lord”
  Why?  “for He is good.”      Psalm 136:1a
• “Thy word have I hid in my heart”
  Why?  “that I might not sin against Thee.”      Psalm 119:11
• “We love”
  Why?  “because He first loved us.”      1 John 4:19
• “Do not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged.”
  Why?  “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9b
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
  Why?  “And He will make your paths straight.”      Proverbs 3:5-6

This has been exciting to see!  May God continue to open our eyes to how we can use His Word for training in righteousness (first in ourselves and then our children =) )    For 2 Timothy 3:14-17  says “…continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”