After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Teminite, “I am angry with you…”
For what? What was the offense that angered God? Robbing the Temple? Causing an unjust war? Stealing from widows? What was God angry about?
“…for you have not spoken accurately about Me, as my servant Job has.” – Job 42:7*
Scripture lists several actions and attitudes that anger God, but inaccuracy is not one that usually comes to mind. We should take heed.
When we teach kids about God, if we add anything at all or take anything away, we aren’t showing Him to be as good–as perfect–as He actually is. God is the ultimate mixture of grace and truth (John 1:14). We can’t leave out His perfection in preference to His grace, or major on His righteous requirements while glossing over His grace. God’s righteousness makes His grace all the more astonishing; His holiness makes His mercy even greater. Motivated by love, this God with no fault of His own reached down to us–a sinful people–and made a way for us to join Him! So His lavish grace is the magnet that wins our heart and allegiance. It boggles the mind while transforming the heart.
When you think about it, belief in Him is what God has asked of His created since the beginning. How can our kids believe in Him if they don’t really know who He is? But when we show God for who He really is, kids are so likely to fall in love with Him. He is entirely lovable.
So if you teach kids, first things first. Dig into His word and read it with an open mind. Ask Him daily to reveal Himself to you–in His entirety. Ask Him to shine His light on any wrong thoughts so that you only teach full truth. He wants us all to know Him as He is; that is eternal life (John 17:3).
* It should be noted that, mercifully, God allowed Job to offer a sacrifice and pray over his companions to atone for their sin. Our God is fully grace and fully truth.