Lucille is running for student body president against a sneaky candidate. Will Lucille use the same tactics against her opponent?
Before You ListenTheme: Known by their actions.
1. Proverbs 20:11 says that even children show what is in their hearts by the choices they make. Is it more important to do right or to get what you think you want? Is it better to get a bad grade for not doing your homework or to copy someone else’s work? Is it better to be popular or to be kind to a classmate who has no friends? Think of a time when you had to make a choice between what you wanted and what was right.
2. Daniel was a powerful man in King Darius’ court. So powerful, that Darius’ other advisors were jealous and wanted to trap Daniel. They convinced the king to make a law saying that everyone in the kingdom had to pray to only to the king . If anyone disobeyed, that person would be thrown into a den of lions! Daniel had to make a choice between what he wanted (to stay alive and serve the king) and what was right (to pray only to God). What did Daniel do? Read Daniel 6 and find out! Think about what you would have done as you listen to today’s episode.
“Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?”
A: One that talked about school issues, not name calling.
In this episode, Lucille had to choose between winning and doing what was right. Her actions had to match her words.
Jesus’ harshest words in his ministry were directed at those he called “hypocrites.” He had no use for them. Their actions did not support their words. Unfortunately, the people he criticized the most for hypocrisy were the religious leaders who claimed to follow God but instead gave God a bad name with their selfishness and their pride. Read Matthew 23 to see what Jesus said about hypocrites.
On the other hand, God tells us that he is faithful, that he loves us, and that he is trustworthy. And we don’t have to worry that God is just saying the words. He backs his words up with actions—even to the point of giving up his son to death so that we can live.
Want to dig deeper and learn more about how God is faithful? Check out: See Numbers 23:19, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 145:13.
Make a decision tree showing the decisions that Daniel had to make in the story of Daniel and the lion’s den. Write the problem on the top, and then under that make three columns with three possible solutions to the problems. Under each solution, write what possible good and bad results. Look at all the options to make one decision and write it at the bottom of the page.
Sometimes, God does the unexpected to support decisions that honor him. Even if he doesn’t, it is always best to do things God’s way.
Do you have a decision to make about doing what you want or doing what is right? Make a decision tree that shows your options. Circle the choices that obey God and his word. Choose to live your life God’s way, and trust him with the results.