Daily Devotions: Church is for Children: Matthew 18:10

Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 38:9-14 and Matthew 18:10-14

Matthew 18:10 (Jesus said)                “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in Heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven.”

This Sunday our Church Children lead the worship hour. They sing and dance and read and pray. They convey a lot of excitement about their faith and show a great deal of confidence in their presentations. It’s a wonderful gift and a beautiful blessing that God has given to our church.

The whole worship hour does not happen by itself. Dedicated leaders and committed instructors, as well as supportive parents and church members, all play a key role in making the entire service a sacred way of glorifying God. The children have been well taught in each of their skills and warmly encouraged to express their faith in creative ways. They have also been nurtured spiritually and shown how to pray to God week after week, rehearsal after rehearsal, song after song.

The mission of the program is to give our children an opportunity to welcome Christ into their lives and to show their families and friends their God-given talents. It’s a holy way of allowing our church kids to be blessed and to become a blessing to others. It’s a beautiful way to not only see what our children can do, but to share our Christianity through their acts of faith, dances of hope, and songs of love.

As they present their ways of worship to God on Sunday morning, I firmly believe that He will be happily smiling and delighting in their praiseworthy deeds.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the precious gifts of children to our church and for the many bright ways that they can present their worship to You. Support them in their preparations and bless those who have used their own talents and time to minister, guide, and encourage our children. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Epiphany drawings called “The Arrival.” It features the Wise Men arriving in Bethlehem, presenting their gifts to Christ. If you would like to view a larger version of the image, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6557347881_509dfd33fd_b.jpg

Summer devotions: The Value of VBS - Acts 8:26-31

Acts 8:30-31    Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Some of the most important work in the church’s year is taking place this week. It’s our annual Vacation Bible School and this year’s theme is all about pirates, Paul and shipwrecks. The kids love the singing, story-telling, crafts and games, and our church is so blessed with many faithful volunteers.

Those volunteers are crucial to passing on our faith to the next generation. Their week-long commitment is a life-long investment in the spirits of our children. Years after the VBS program is over, some of the kids will remember their friends, families, and church workers enjoying the whole experience. Hopefully, it will keep them positively connected to God and the lessons that they learn will give them the godly guidance to help them make good decisions in their lives.

In today’s passage (Acts 8:26-31), the apostle Philip is urged by the Holy Spirit to walk alongside a fellow traveler. The man on horseback is reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah but he does not understand what is written. Philip has been placed there beside him to interpret the writings and tell the Ethiopian about Jesus. The consequences of this conversation will have a profound effect on the travelers and will introduce the Gospel to Africa.

As Christians, we are all called to share our faith and help other people understand who Jesus is. Philip did this for the Ethiopian; our VBS team is doing it for the children. The question we should all be asking ourselves today is this: where will the Spirit place me today to share Christ?

Prayer:                        Holy Spirit, thank You for the inspiration that You have given to Christ’s followers throughout the centuries. Thank You for the work of evangelists like Philip and faithful people like Vacation Bible School volunteers. May their ministries plant seeds of faith, which will bear much fruit in the generations to come. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest moonlight drawings of Maybole Castle in Scotland. If you would like to view a larger version online, please visit the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4735805847_8513427a20_b.jpg