Right From Wrong—the Bible Helps Me Tell the Difference

Treasure Text: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ , , , ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ “ (Mark 12:30, 31, NIV).

Grandma could see that Gemma looked worried. She had heard her fighting during a game with her brother that morning. Angry words had been spoken. When Mommy asked her to say she was sorry, Gemma had chosen to close her mouth so tight that no words came out. Now Gemma sat outside on the step looking sad.

Grandma knew that there were many Bible treasure texts that could help Gemma choose to do the right thing. She reminded Gemma to put on her “God is love” glasses. Then they opened Grandma’s Bible and began to read and talk.

In Mark 12 Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God with all the passion, time, and energy we have; and that the second greatest commandment was to love our neighbor as ourselves. Grandma explained that when we are not sure what to do, we should think, I wonder how I can best love God and my neighbor?“Gemma,” Grandma said, “I’m pretty sure that Jesus counts your brother and all the people in your life, even in your street and beyond, as your neighbor.”

“If you love your brother, then you will try to say nice things to him. When we start to feel angry we can walk away until we have calmed down. If we want to treat Mommy with Jesus’ love, then we will obey her. In Proverbs 15:1 we can read, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (NIV).

Gemma thought for a while and then went off to find Mommy. There were some “I’m sorry” words she wanted to say to her.

First John 2:3-8 tells us that we know Jesus if we obey His commands, obey His word and walk as Jesus did. Some of the most important commands from God were given through Moses to the children of Israel, and to us. Jesus lived these Ten Commandments. The first four tell us how to love God and the second six tell us how to love each other. Grandma read the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 to Gemma and explained them to her.

Grandma said, “Gemma, everybody makes mistakes. But we can all ask God to forgive us, and work hard at staying connected to Jesus. Jesus promised that one day we will live and love as He does. First John 3:2 tells us that when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12, NIV).

Let’s Talk
What is a good guide for working out what is right and wrong?

Let’s Pray
Ask Jesus to help us say we’re sorry to others when we’ve been wrong.

Let’s Make
Pack a box of clothes. Label each clothing item with an action or character trait. Some will be labelled with such words as: gentleness, sharing, reading the Bible, praying, and others will be labelled with such words as: playing lots of video games, being selfish, lying, and stealing. Sort the clothes and pack the clothes we are packing for heaven into a suitcase.