Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – Dependence
Opening
- Today we learned a lot about our flag and history, let’s see where the Bible says our citizenship is.
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, Jesus.
Devotional
Big picture Depending on God
- Q: Did you know our country had so many flags? Which flag is your favorite? Why? (Add your own favorite)
- Our American heritage has included many flags as the people worked to make this nation into the great nation it has become. As the country grew and changed, so did our flag.
- The American flag, also known as the flag of the United States of America, has been a symbol of freedom. A symbol is a material object (flag) that represents something invisible (freedom). Some people look at our flag and see just a flag, but most people look at it and think about what the flag means to them. Everything about our flag means something more, doesn't it? (its colors, bars, stars, etc)
- Example: our flag is a symbol just like the cross is a symbol, they both mean more than what you see.
- But what has made us great and given us freedom has come from God. From the beginning of this nation, our leaders have had dependence on God.
- Q: Does anyone know what dependence means?
- Our teaching verse also points us toward Jesus and heaven that awaits us. It says we are citizens of America, but we are even more so, as Christians, citizens of heaven.
- How can Christians be citizens of America and of heaven at the same time? It’s a matter of priorities.
- Example: you are a citizen of America first and a citizen of this State second; your higher priority is to the nation, not to the State. But there is an even higher priority citizenship than this nation.
- Because heaven and God are real, so it is to them we owe our highest priority, higher than as a U.S. citizen.
- As Christians, we are just passing through this life on our way to our final home in heaven. Heaven is our true home.
- Our nation’s founding fathers were godly men, so they knew they were citizens of heaven. So, they founded this nation to be dependent on God first and foremost. That’s why when we pledge allegiance to our flag, we say, “under God”, which means we recognize we are all dependent on God.
- As you leave this place today, ask God to help you depend on Him for help in your daily activities.
Memory Verse #2
Ask if anybody knows it yet and can say it? Read it together 2X Consider having a memory verse pamphlet for kids take home.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Topical Questions
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Even though we are citizens of heaven, we must honor and respect everyone. As 1 Peter 2:17 says, “Show proper respect to everyone: Love your brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the authorities.” Authorities means honoring government. What is one way that you might honor government authorities?
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The Bible says our citizenship priorities are to: heaven first, the church second, the world third, and government last. But we are to show proper respect to everyone. Proper means what is right and holy. How might you might heaven your top priority?
Closing Prayer
Dear Father God, we thank You for allowing us to be citizens of this great nation. We thank You for our beautiful flag that means so much. God, we know that you are good to us. Never let us forget that all our blessings are because of You. You have chosen to bless this nation because we are dependent on You. But we know even above this nation we are citizens of heaven waiting for Jesus’ return. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
