A Splink is a SIMPLE way to LINK your family together spiritually.
It’s a FREE weekly email packed with ideas to help connect your family. Splinks are creative ways of interacting with your children with family devotional starters and ideas for family time. Splinks can also help you use teachable moments to pass along spiritual truths and life lessons while making memories or just having fun together. No matter where you are, it can always be time for a Splink!
Sign up now to have the weekly Splink emailed straight into your inbox. What are you waiting for? Get Splinking!
Splinks for January 31st - February 6th
1
Fair Trade?
At the dinner table, ask one of your kids to go to his or her room and bring something he or she doesn't want. Then ask if he or she would like to trade it for a $5 bill. Hand your child the $5 and take the unwanted item for yourself.
Ask:
Was that a fair trade?
Was that a fair trade?
No, that wasn't a fair trade, but that reminds me of the trade Jesus made with us. He took our sin and gave us His righteousness. Because of His willingness to take our sins, we can be right with God. It wasn't fair for the perfect Son of God to take all our dirty sins on Himself, but He did it willingly for us.
Say a prayer of thanks.
2
"How can I whip this boy?"
Read or tell the following story, "He Took My Whipping for Me," published by the Christian Workers' Tract League of Vancouver, Canada.
In the mountains of Virginia years ago there was a boy's school class which no teacher could handle. The boys were so rough the teachers always resigned.
A young teacher applied for the job. The school director looked him up and down, and then said, "Young fellow, do you know what you are asking for? An awful beating, that's what. Every teacher we've had up there gives up in defeat. The young teacher replied, "I'll risk it. Let me try."
Well, when he appeared for duty in the little school, one big fellow, Tom, whispered out loud, "I won't need any help; I can lick him myself."
The teacher said, "Good morning. We have come to conduct school." The students yelled a sarcastic "Good Morning" back at the teacher at the top of their lungs. "Now, I want a good school," the teacher continued, "but I confess, I don't know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell them to me and I'll write them on the blackboard."
One fellow yelled, "No stealing!" Another chipped in, "Be on time!" Finally ten rules appeared. "Now," said the teacher, "a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with the one who breaks them?"
"Beat them across the back ten times without his coat on!" came the shout. "That is a pretty severe punishment boys; are you ready to stand by it?" A yell in the affirmative greeted the teacher. "All right," said the teacher, "then school comes to order."
In a day or so "Big Tom" found his dinner was stolen. Upon inquiry the thief was located—a little hungry fellow about ten years old. The next morning the teacher announced, "We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule-ten stripes across the back! Jim, come up here!"
The trembling little fellow came up slowly with a big coat, buttoned and pinned up around his neck. He pleaded, "Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like but please don't make me take off my coat." "You helped make the rule," reasoned the teacher. Take the coat off."
"Oh teacher, don't make me!" he begged. But the teacher's stern face showed no leniency, so he began to unbutton it and what did the teacher see? The lad had no shirt on, and only strings for suspenders over his bony little body.
"How can I whip this boy?" thought the teacher. "But I must do something if I am going to keep this class's respect." Everyone was quiet as death. "How come you came to school without a shirt, Jim?" asked the teacher. "My father died, and we ain't got much. I only have one shirt, and mother's washing it today, so I wore my brother's coat to keep warm."
With a sigh of a heavy heart, the teacher hesitatingly grasped the rod in his hand. Just then "Big Tom" jumped to his feet and said, "Teacher, if you don't mind, I'll take Jim's licking for him."
"Very well, there is a certain law that one can take another's punishment for him. Do you all agree?" the teacher asked. With the class's consent Tom removed his coat, and after five strokes the rod broke. The teacher bowed his head and thought, "How can I finish this awful task?"
Then he heard the entire class sobbing and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around the neck. "Tom, I'm awful sorry, Tom, I was so hungry. I'll love you till I die for taking my licking for me. I'll love you for ever!"
Ask:
How is this a small picture of what Jesus did for us? (Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our sin.)
How is this a small picture of what Jesus did for us? (Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our sin.)
Read the Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21(the verse students using the D6 curriculum are learning). (For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.)
3
Sin Must Be Punished
When your child does something wrong and needs to be punished, take the punishment. Tell your child that sin must be punished, but you are willing to take it for him or her.
Later, ask:
What did Jesus do for us on the cross? (Christ, the innocent one, was punished; we, the guilty ones, went free.)
What did Jesus do for us on the cross? (Christ, the innocent one, was punished; we, the guilty ones, went free.)
Pilate released Barabbas (who was guilty) and condemned Jesus (who was innocent) to death. Jesus died not only for Barabbas' sin, but for the sin of every person who ever lived.
