Turn Their Eyes Upon Jesus

With all that is going on around us, there are some unexpected times ahead. For now, there are a lot of families making some major adjustments to their schedules—spending more time together at home. While other families are accustomed to homeschooling, there’s still a lot of unexpected things to adjust to—no homeschool activities and groups to attend. And the reports flying around about worries and rumors of worries are unsettling. And as always, our numero uno goal as parents is to point our children to Jesus Christ. How much more so do we need to help them turn their eyes upon Jesus through unexpected times?

Currently, there’s a plethora of homeschool blog articles about how to homeschool through this crisis. So, I don’t feel that I need to regurgitate those suggestions. However, I do want to reach out and help parents with turning their family’s eyes upon Jesus.

God is in Control

What is control? Webster’s 1828 Dictionary tells us the Biblical definition of this word:

“Power; authority; government; command. Children should be under the control of their parents. The events of life are not always under our control.”

Talk with your children about how God is Sovereign. Jesus has power and authority over all things. He is governing and is still involved in the lives of men and nations.

In addition to this, share with your children about how government is direction, regulation, control, and restraint. Galatians 5 tells us that one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit is self-control. Or in other words, self-government. As believers, we have Christian self-government. This means that when we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have His government flowing in and through us. Government is defined in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary as: direction, regulation, control and restraint (Christian self-government comes from Christ residing in and through us).

Chaos vs. Peace

Individuals without Christ Jesus are experiencing feelings of chaos. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary explains that chaos is:

Confusion; disorder; a state in which the parts are undistinguished.

Whereas those with Christ Jesus experience the opposite—we experience peace. According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary peace is:

In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.

Therefore, we have order (peace) within us because of Christ Jesus flowing in and through us. Clearly, His indwelling Spirit regulates us—He rules within our hearts and gives us order . . . peace. Once again, this is Christian internal self-government—an internal yielding to Christ Jesus for help.

Is it possible that the other Fruits of the Holy Spirit listed below spring for from Christian self-government?…

• love
• joy
• peace
• long-suffering
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control (self-government)

Teach your children about how mankind is fallible and sinful by nature. Therefore we cannot govern ourselves. We need Jesus Christ to help govern us. For it’s by His power that we can have Christian self-government.

This is seen externally by how we choose to respond to circumstances around us—how we steward what He has given us dominion over.

We are Stewards

By nature, mankind wants to be able to control. Yet, many are realizing the reality that we cannot control several things. Understandably, this can make individuals feel frightened or uncertain—especially children.

When teaching your children that God is in control, explain that He has not given us a spirit of fear. And that we can focus on being good stewards over many things as we face trying times. What does it mean to be a steward?

 “A man employed in great families to manage the domestic concerns, superintend the other servants, collect the rents or income, keep the accounts, etc.”

We can still steward our:

• Internal Property: thought life, attitudes, heart, conscience, prayer, etc.
• External Property: time, actions, responsibilities, domestic concerns, verbal prayer, etc.

By discussing stewardship with our children, it can help them see the opportunity in how they may respond to Holy God with spiritual maturity.

Turn Their Eyes Upon Jesus

You know, in reading Matthew 6:25-33, we learn about how to deal with anxiety if it hits us. As we read through this passage, we’re given examples about how God cares for His creation. He cares for the obscure of His creation. Therefore, why wouldn’t He care for us—the pinnacle of His creation?

It’s human nature to want to be cared for. But let’s find out what God tell us to do in regards to this.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

What does kingdom mean? Exactly what does it mean to seek His kingdom? Webster’s 1828 Dictionary explains that what were talking about here is government.

“Government; rule; supreme administration.“

Teach Them How to Tools to Help Them

There are many examples in history (His-Story) when people have faced trials and tribulations. Help your children to learn to see the cause-to-effect of events. Another way of understanding this is to think: “if this, then that”.

Additionally, help them to note mans’ response to Holy God through their trials and tribulations. Using a T-Chart, label the left side “internal qualities” and label the right side “external qualities”. Then as you read about individuals in the Bible or other individuals in history, take note of each quality you come across. Another way which may help your elementary and older children is to use a T-Chart about himself or herself. It may help your children identify their internal struggles like fear or doubt. And they can add these areas to their prayer journal.

Another way to turn their eyes upon Jesus is to look for God’s Providential Hand. Make a list of areas of need—whether spiritual or physical. Pray for provision. And journal about if, when, how God Provides.

With all that is happening, it’s easy for people to want to run to civil gov’t for help. But we must remember and teach our children that our Heavenly Father provides through family, friends, His body of believers, and volunteer assemblies. He never designated that jurisdiction to civil gov’t.

For a free family Bible study download on this, visit my store here. Offer is free until

P.S.
If you are one of many families who have decided to homeschool for now on, here’s how to find the right homeschool curriculum for your Christian family.