Galatians 4:21. Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
Think together: What would the world be like if there were no rules or laws?
Read together: Rules are very important, aren’t they? Imagine if the world had no rules or laws. What would it be like to drive on the highway without any speed limits or lines on the road? What would it be like to play baseball without any rules? What if music, math, or medicine had no rules? Things would be chaotic, and people would get hurt!
Now think about God’s rules. His rules are even more important, aren’t they? Do you know any of the Ten Commandments? These are some of God’s most basic laws: Worship only God. Don’t worship idols. Don’t steal, lie, or kill. Obey your parents. Don’t be jealous of what other people have. These laws show us how to love God and love other people.
But God doesn’t want us to only focus on a list of rules. Anyone can follow a rule just to stay out of trouble. God wants us to obey his rules because we love him and trust him. He doesn’t just want us to be good; He wants us to enjoy life with him!
For example, I used to love playing soccer. Do you know where I had the most fun playing? It wasn’t on the teams where coaches and parents yelled, and all the pressure was on winning. The most fun I ever had was playing in my best friend’s backyard with a ball and a couple of cans as goals. There was no scoreboard and no pressure—just fun.
When we only focus on rules, it feels like we have to be perfect or else we get in trouble. If your dad drives too fast, he gets a ticket. If your mom forgets to pay a bill, she gets a late fee. Rules can keep us from doing bad things, but they can’t change our hearts to make us want to do good things. Only love for God and others can do that.
And why do we love God? Because he first loved us! He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we can be forgiven and live with God forever. In Heaven, we won’t need rules to remind us to be kind, because we will love God and each other completely. So today, think about how much God loves you. Let that love fill your heart, and go do the right thing!
Do something together: Try playing a game that you like but without any rules. Then play it the right way. Finally play it with love—not to win, but to help everyone succeed and have a good time.
Because of Jesus: We know that we are loved by God.
With Jesus: We can do the right thing from love and not just rules.
Pray: Father, help me to do the right thing today, not only because I have to, but because I want to in order to love you. Amen.
