Week 11: The Adventure of Faith
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins (2 Peter 1:9).
Hello fellow climbers,
Are you ready for the next adventure? With all the instruction we’ve received so far, I think we’re pretty well prepared! And, with only a few weeks left in our challenge, the best is yet to come. So let’s head out! BUT, be ready, this section of the journey is going to require lots of HUPOMONE! Remember what that means? That’s right, cheerful endurance! You’re going to need hupŏmŏnē for the journey ahead because sometimes you’ll be tempted to stop and rest too long (Yaaaawn! Are we there yet?). But don’t get weary in well doing, for we shall reap if we faint not (Galatians 6:9). The apostle Peter gives us some good advice to help us avoid these traps:
“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never fall.”
Curious about what Peter is referring to when he speaks about the “things” that are lacking? They are the character qualities listed earlier that need to be added to our faith—virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. You could think of these things as your “character trait packing list.” Each character trait is essential if you are to make your journey to the end. Otherwise, you will “fall,” get lazy, or forget that you’re even on an adventure!
Let’s keep reading. The passage goes on to say that someone who does not have “these things” is shortsighted, even to blindness. So, what does that mean?
Well, it’s over the ocean and back to ancient Greece we go! The Greek word for shortsighted (myōpazō) is used for someone who shuts their eyes, blinks, or cannot see very far in the distance. The word used for blindness (typhlós) carries the idea of something that is opaque (that is, not clear) or smoky—like a hazy campfire. Have you ever tried to see through the smoke of a campfire? You’re basically blind to what’s in front of you (is my s’more burnt?). Trying to function in life with vision like this seems like a surefire recipe for disaster! (Oops! I just tripped over that backpack! Who put that there?! Oh…I forgot…I did. I must watch where I’m going.)
In this passage, Peter is explaining that the shortsighted and blind person may believe in Jesus but keeps stumbling and falling because they can’t see far enough ahead of themselves (like the backpack I just tripped over). Spiritually shortsighted people keep tripping on everything, and, rather than living joyously, they just keep complaining about the things they fall over. (Aha! Missed tripping on that root. Woah! Almost brushed up against that poison ivy. I’ve got this. My vision seems to be getting clearer today. And that’s because I have my trusty Compass with me—God’s Word).
I will admit though, there have been a few times when I seemed to trip over everything and everyone! When I forget my Compass, I’m more apt to be unkind, unforgiving, or unloving. And when I’m not using my Compass (spending time in the Word) my vision gets cloudier and cloudier—"shortsighted.” Peter says that this shortsighted and unsightly condition happens when we “forget that [we] were cleansed from our old sins!” Woah…really?
Do you remember when you were cleansed of your old sins? Do you remember when God saved you, and from what He saved you? We were once “dead in trespasses and sins,” but now we are “alive in Christ!” Hmm…if I’m to be alive in Christ, then I need to start acting like it! How? Glad you asked. You become most alive when you realize how much you’ve been forgiven, or “cleansed from your old sins.” If you can grasp how awesome it is to be forgiven and cleansed, then you will experience great joy in the journey (if I can borrow that beautiful phrase that Michael Card penned in his song, Joy in the Journey). But don’t forget, when you slip up or trip down, get back up and keep adding to your faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love! And remember, he who lacks “these things” is blind and cannot see very far—that means you will keep tripping and falling over everything!
Now let’s see, what’s next? Oh, look, we’re close to the end of our journey! Beware my fellow travelers. This next section of the forest can be very scary. But that’s okay, God has helped us get this far; I know He will help us to the end! So, even though the trail may get tough, if you keep your eyes wide open, and constantly check your Compass, you will not stumble on the roots at your feet or get lost in the woods (like the blind and shortsighted person).
There now. I can see some light. We’re almost there. Ouch! Woah! There’s a cloud of mosquitoes coming at us! Ouch! Let’s run…phew! We made it out of that cloudy mess. Sure glad I was able to see that afar off. Woah, watch out! See that big root crossing the path? We’ll need to keep our eyes peeled for this last part of the journey.
Here…this is a good place to set up camp before we take on this last trek. I think I’ll spend some time with my Compass and get the fire going. Hmm, I’m hungry! Let’s eat some grub. No, not grubs, food! Like…freshly caught rainbow trout. Let’s go catch some in that stream over there!
Now, let’s freshen up before we tackle the most important part of the journey. And let’s not forget, when we faithfully and diligently practice “these things,” we can be sure (as sure as a bear loves blueberries) that we will never fall!
There’s joy in the journey!
Rainey
Weekly Bible Memory (You can use whatever version of the Bible you prefer): 25 points per passage - additional passages may be memorized for 25 points each (up to 3 verses constitute a passage)
Ages 6-10
“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8).
Ages 10-13
“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:1-4).
Ages 14+
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light” (Luke 11:33-36).
Weekly Bible Reading/Book: 5 points per chapter read - any chapter of the Bible may be read anytime during the challenge for 5 points each.
Psalm 119
Reading List: * 1 point per page read - any Lamplighter book/Lamplighter resource book/non-fiction [biography, spiritual growth, informational] may be ready anytime throughout the challenge 1 point per page.
Ages 6-11
Ages 9-14
Ages 12+
Ned Franks: the One-Armed Sailor
*You may read any Lamplighter book at any time throughout the challenge. This list is only recommendations that go along with this week’s theme.
Creative Assignment: I’m Going on a Hike and I’m Going to Find… (25 points)
Recruit some family members or friends and go on an explorative hike (this could be right in your backyard or a local trail/park), completing the attached scavenger hunt list HERE as you go! This will require you to keep your eyes wide open as you search for each “something” on the list. For 15 extra points, take a picture of each “something” you find, and submit your photo collage to the link below.
*Submit your Creative Assignment to Lamplighter HERE and award yourself 15 bonus points! Assignments need to be submitted by August 12th, 2024, in order to receive the bonus points.
Practical Assignment: Stories Around the Campfire (50 points)
Choose an evening this week to gather together with family and/or friends (preferably around a campfire with s’mores!) and take some time to swap stories of what God has done or is doing in your life. Remembering the testimonies of the Lord is a sure way to grow in confidence in your faith, and you may just learn something about another person that you didn’t know before! You could also ask the group if they have any song suggestions, and you could sing a song together. This is a great opportunity to talk about what you’ve been learning through the Summer Reading Challenge and the books you’ve read!
Don’t forget to tag us @lamplighterministries
to share with us how you and your family are completing the challenge!
