Lately I have been thinking a lot about helping children learn to serve others. I want to present enough opportunities for them to help their neighbors so they will not only do what is right, but to grow in their desire to serve more. I love that they are learning about God’s Word in classes and Bible studies. In Awana on Wednesday nights, they are memorizing hundreds of scriptures. It is important for them to know what they believe, hide God’s Word in their heart, and to be able to give an account for their faith. I want to take this a step further and allow them to put action to that faith.
We talked about active faith in our recent Route 56 meal. I asked questions about faith, and as they gave an answer I would reward them with a can of pop. The last person to answer a question came up to receive their can of pop. I made a good show of shaking up their can before trying to open it for them. This kiddo made a run for it. Why? Because she had an active faith that the pop was going to explode out of the can and into her sweet face. If we put that much active faith in a momentary insignificant event, surely we can put action to our faith in the loving God of the universe.
I love that our church family is seeking to serve our community in our new annual “Big Serve”! This is a chance for our kids to work alongside you and put action to their faith. What a great way for all of us to mentor these children and show them how to ”love our neighbor as yourself.” ( Matthew 22:39) As you serve on April 16, please take note of the children who may be serving in your group. Show them your love for others. Talk to them about what this service may mean to whoever we may be serving. As we are working hard for our neighbor, we grow in our love for serving God and those He puts in our paths. I pray that this event will do the same for our children.
Thank you not only for caring for the needs of our community, but also for being a great example for our “littles”! I want to share some scripture with you that I have been pondering about serving others.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2)
“but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
“If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10)
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17)
May God’s Word bless you,
Amy