What do Fractions have to do with Jesus?

God's perfect timing continues to amaze me! I had an unplanned Math lesson with my 7 year old daughter on Good Friday. The next lesson in our RightStart (TM) Mathematics curriculum was on fractions. So, I looked up the word "fraction" for her in the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary. This is where it all begins!

FRAC'TION, n. [L. fractio, frango, fractus, to break. See Break.]

1. The act of breaking or state of being broken, especially by violence.

2. In arithmetic and algebra, a broken part of an integral or integer;

any division of a whole number or unit, as 2/5, two fifths, 1/4, one fourth,

which are called vulgar fractions.

 

Wow! That FIRST definition popped out at me and I was so excited when I read it to her. I explained to her that this didn't have to do with just numbers or plain-old arithmetic at all. I asked if this reminded her of what we just talked about in our Bible reading that morning. That Jesus' body was broken for our sins. That He suffered greatly for us in such a violent manner. Isn't it amazing to find out how fractions go back to Jesus?! Imagine how much more we can learn about Jesus and God's character by using such an approach as this. Through this, you can learn how there is a much bigger purpose behind Math than just numbers. And, this isn't just with Math, it's for each subject that we learn. There IS a reason for everything in all of life!

Amazingly, our Math lesson that day led us to the Bible with this verse: "And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." ~1 Cor. 11:24

So, we were able to finish our math lesson that day with excitement. We had our minds fixed on Jesus and His great love for us as we worked on learning the second part of the definition. I will be honest and say that I hated fractions but I absolutely can't say that now. I LOVE FRACTIONS!

Prevention

Are you living a life of prevention? Do you eat healthy to prevent illness? Are you in God's Word to prevent wrong behavior and making the wrong decisions? Do you keep your children home to prevent them from gaining a secular education? There is a lot that we do to prevent us from things that we want to avoid or work on for our own good...whether it be for our faith, our safety, our health or our relationships. This is a lot to ponder and we can seek the Lord to help give us wisdom on what we can work on in terms of prevention for His glory.

I love the defnition of "prevent" in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary. It means "to go before; to precede, as something unexpected or unsought; to anticipate; to preoccupy; to pre-engage; to attempt first; to hinder; to obstruct". A lot to think about as all of these convey an action from us!

What are the things in your life and in your childrens life that you want to prevent? Ask the Lord what changes He wants you to make. Please join with me in meditating on this! I pray that "mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word" (Psalm 119:148).