Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – Gusto!
Opening
- Let’s see what the Bible says about how we should live or work or play, including taking up a hobby.
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
Devotional
Big picture God wants us to do our best.
- Q: Have you ever been around someone who just didn’t seem very interested in doing something?
- Could you tell they weren’t interested because they weren’t giving their best effort?
- There’s an old saying, “You get out of something, what you put into it.” The Bible describes this principle using farming terms: “you reap (harvest) what you sow (plant).” Does anyone know what that means?
- Today, we would say that means, “it takes effort for something good to happen.” Or said another way, you cannot get the good stuff without effort. Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.
- The reason this principle is important is because God wants us to do our best. He doesn’t want you to give a half-hearted effort. He wants you to do whatever you choose to do, including hobbies you choose, with your best effort.
- Why?
- Because, God knows you and me, and He knows the devil. He knows we all tend to be lazy and want short-cuts in life. And God knows the devil wants to rob you of any joy in life. He knows the devil is up to no good. So, those two truths add up to nothing getting done. No good stuff happening.
- God knows we will be filled with joy at seeing the works of our hands, like doing hobbies, creating something good, often unexpectedly good. Like building a really cool model or scoring a goal.
- Having the good things in life takes effort. There are no short-cuts.
- The teaching verse encourages us to remember that whatever you do, give it your very best effort. You will be rewarded for doing that. Maybe not right away, and maybe not in the way you expect, but in God’s timing you will see a reward.
- Don’t let that possible delay alarm you. Don’t let that keep you from putting in your best effort.
- The timing of your reward is not up to you. God chooses when you will see the fruit of your efforts.
- But you must trust that God is good, and that He will reward you for your best efforts. If you do your best, then leave the results up to Him. You do your part. God will certainly do His part.
- So, whatever hobby you choose, do it with all your might, with all you got. You will be glad you did!
Memory Verse #3
Ask if anybody knows it yet and can say it? Read it together 2X Consider having a memory verse pamphlet for kids take home.
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Topical Questions
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John 3:16 tells us Jesus gave His best for us. Could you imagine if Jesus didn't give His best effort?
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Why does God care if we give our best effort, or not? Does it really matter?
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Professional athletes or musicians spend 1000’s of hours practicing. Why do they work so hard?
All too soon, this life ends. Don’t put off until tomorrow, that which you can do today.
Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that You want us to find joy in life. Father, You know us so well! You know we need to be reminded to give our best effort; otherwise, we may tend to become lazy or listen to the devil’s lies. Keep the enemy away from us. Help us to remember this fact that no good comes from doing nothing. In Your son’s name, Jesus Christ, we pray these requests. Amen!
