When Life Gets Wild, God is Good
Hello Church,
Elder Matt here. As our church’s 7th annual Summer Saturday Program is fast approaching, it is important that we remember how our Lord Jesus Christ considers and sees the children.
In Luke 9:46-48, Jesus’s disciples are arguing who amongst themselves is the greatest. Jesus responds by taking a child by his side and says,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is the greatest.”
Luke 9:46-48
Jesus is saying that whoever loves the low, the poor, the sick, the widowed, the suffering, the forgotten, whoever enacts mercy and justice will be great in God’s eyes. And although some children today are the most cared for in the history of mankind, there are still many children today who are not as loved and cherished as they should be. And so Jesus is saying that among the greatest are CEM teachers, SSP volunteers, and anyone else who serves the destitute and defenseless. How amazing is it to take part in such an endeavor and task that our God sees as weighty and great?! To be part of God’s plan in forming new friendships and planting seeds of the loving gospel of Jesus Christ into the hearts of little ones...YES!!! The children in SSP, and CEM, and everywhere are important and cherished by God, and we should believe the same too. No matter how many or how young or old, every single child is worth our time.
Working with children is always a difficult task. If you are volunteering, know that despite kids being uncooperative at times, and the craziness that comes with leading and teaching children, God is with you. As you have experienced mercy from God numerous times, show mercy and compassion to these children. Be their friend, even if they don’t want to be your friend, lol!
And if you are unable to participate at SSP, we humbly ask that you pray with us. Let’s give thanks to God for this opportunity, and here are three things that you can approach God’s throne of grace for:
Pray that whoever God brings to us, that the Holy Spirit may work and stir the hearts of the children, and the parents, to hear and believe that they are in need of a savior for their sins, and that Jesus loves them and is the only one who can forgive and change them, and give them hope, renewal, and acceptance from God. (Rom 3:23-24 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.)
Pray that God would grant all of the volunteers the faith to trust that God is present with them as they work for and teach the children. That despite their tiredness and weakness, God will be their strength. That they have nothing to offer, but that everything comes from God. (2 Cor 2:9 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.)
Pray that as a church we will be welcoming, caring, and celebratory towards children. That even after SSP is all done we can continue the good work of teaching the gospel to the children and see the value and weight that this has in the eyes of our God. (Luke 9:46-48)
Bottom line, lets all pray that God’s will may be done.
When life gets wild, God is good!
