Tag Archive for: ecme devotions

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9

“Dear Jesus, thank-you for the firefighters. Thank-you for keeping me safe when I had to leave my house. I knew you would stop the fire and keep me safe. You are always by me.” This is a prayer that one of my 4-year-old pre-k students prayed the first week of school this year. As adults, we had all moved past the wildfires that ripped through our northern California community. However, the fires were still on the minds of the little students. As I listened to this child’s simple prayer I looked over at the little boy and I will never forget what I saw in his face. It was complete confidence in God. It was pure faith! This child had no doubt that God is HIS God and had been with him through the disaster. He also had the assurance that God would always be at his side. The phrase, “childlike faith”, came to my mind. This little boy, only 4 years old, gave a beautiful demonstration of faith with his simple prayer.

You and I have the same confidence of the little boy. God is our God! Deuteronomy 7:9, begins with the phrase, “Know that the LORD your God is God”. The word KNOW stresses that there is no doubt or question, the Lord God IS God. The further comfort of this small opening phrase is that God is your God. Faith is personal. Each person has a faith that God has given them through the Holy Spirit. God is YOUR God. He has you in his hands and is always with you.

The verse goes on to say, “He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” God is faithful. God never leaves us or forsakes us! His covenant, promise of love is real and unchanging!

God is your God! Have the same confidence that the 4-year-old demonstrated. God is faithful and he is with you! His covenant is fulfilled. Through thick and thin God is with you protecting you and showing his love to you!

Prayer:

Faith finds in Christ whate’er we need to save or strengthen us indeed,
Receiving grace from heaven’s throne and humbly sharing cross and throne.

Faith in the Savior brings us peace and bids the mourner’s weeping cease;
By faith the children’s place we claim and give all honor to your name.”
Christian Worship 404:2-3

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:23

During World War II, there was a series of films, newsreels, and printed material that explained “Why We Fight.” The tyranny and raw aggression of the Axis Powers was detailed out to provide the reasoning behind the war effort. Young men were motivated to do their part in the fight oversees, even being willing to give up their lives. Those who stayed home did their part with rationing and producing war materials. The reasons for fighting became all the more clear as the end of the war neared and the atrocious labor and death camps of the Holocaust were discovered. Evil had to be stopped. That was why they fought.

When St. Paul wrote these words, he didn’t say that he fought. But he did work hard, or labor intensely, as the verses that precede these words indicate. Why did Paul work so hard? As he said, he worked so hard for the sake of the gospel. In the gospel we find that the main battle has already been fought. We didn’t have the ability to defeat our enemies, so Jesus did. Paul’s Savior had already fought the good fight and won by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. The evil of sin, death, and the devil had been defeated.

Paul does say he labored. And so do teachers! Why work so hard in the Christian classroom, at church, or making your home a Christian home? To share in the blessings of the gospel. Don’t jump to an incorrect conclusion, though! Our labor doesn’t defeat evil. Remember, Jesus already did that by paying for our sin. Our labor, like Paul’s, is an exercise for our faith. By focusing on the gospel, and working really hard to do so, we are reminded that the blessings of the gospel are eternal. They are much greater than a new car or another pricey gift. God blesses us by rescuing us from eternal evil and giving us membership in his family through faith in Christ.

Beneficiaries of this relationship with God want to share it with others, even if that means labor and hard work. Teachers have a unique opportunity to spend hours every day of the school year sharing the message of Jesus with children. The hard work is worth it for those who realize that the spoken Word is the tool that God uses to grow the faith in those young hearts. You are a messenger of rescue from the eternal holocaust of separation from God in hell. This is why we work: Those who have a share of the blessings of the gospel work to share it with others!

Prayer:
Fight the good fight with all your might;
Christ is your strength and Christ your light.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be your joy and crown eternally.
Christian Worship 447:1

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 121:1-4

When Jay was 3 years old, he had a seizure. He had not been sick, and he had never had a seizure before. When his mother came in his room to check on him before going to bed herself, she felt his body seizing uncontrollably. It was one of the few times in his father’s life that he ever dialed 911. The paramedics came and a trip to the ER followed, along with hours of tests and scans. Nothing abnormal was found. Doctors concluded that a virus had induced a high enough fever to cause the seizure, which the doctors explained was how the body resets itself. Jay’s parents were thankful that help came so quickly when they dialed 911 that night.

The words of Psalm 121 can be considered God’s 911. Open up to Psalm 121 for help in any and every struggle. Read about the One who loves his people Israel, which includes you, enough to watch over you at all hours of the day and night. The Maker of heaven and earth doesn’t take breaks or naps that prevent him from taking care of you. “He…will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Have you ever experienced insomnia? Statistics say that on any given night one in four Americans is experiencing insomnia. Chances are that at some point you have been the one lying awake. When we head to bed for the evening or wake up in the night, our brain turns to the thoughts of yesterday’s challenges and tomorrow’s possible difficulties. Worry. Anxiety. Stress. Call it what you like, but whether you realize it or not, those struggles are a result of trying to have control over the things that are in God’s control. When our failures haunt us, and our challenges overwhelm us, trying to carry those burdens ourselves will only leave us worse off by far. Doing better next time won’t cancel your guilt and no amount of stressing out about the future can change a single thing.

But you have a God who is in complete control. Lift your eyes and find your help in him. He calms your troubled heart filled with your failure by pointing your eyes to the cross of his Son who paid for every one of your mistakes. He calms your worried and anxious heart filled with the unknowns of tomorrow by reminding you that if he went to all the trouble of saving you eternally, he’s not going to forget to watch out for you tomorrow.

The Psalmist assures us that God does not slumber, he does not sleep. He is awake all night long, so he can be watching over everything. He does this so we can sleep. He is our watchman both at night and during the daylight hours.

How can we keep our hearts and minds on things above? Paul tells us. Remember that you have been raised with Christ. Christ has made you a brand-new person. He has made you a forgiven and living child of God. You have been raised with him.

That puts your day to day preoccupations into perspective. Only one reality is forever. Only one concern is eternal. Set your hearts on such things. As a resurrected child of faith find and take advantage of every opportunity to be in God’s Word and surround yourself with fellow Christians who can encourage and remind you of what is truly lasting and important.

Prayer: Dear Lord, you know that I worry over so many things – little things and big things. Remind me that I am not the one in control, but you are. You have everything planned for my good. Most importantly, you have sent your son Jesus to pay the debt for every one of my wrong doings. Keep my anxious heart from worrying, knowing that you are my watchman. In your name I pray. Amen.

A Question to Consider: What situations in your life are causing you to turn to your Lord for help so that you can sleep in peace? How could you use Psalm 121 and other verses from Scripture to remind you of the peace you have each day in Jesus?

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.

Luke 2:30-32

These words were spoken by Simeon who had been told that he would not die until he saw the Messiah, that is, the Christ. After he met the young family of Mary and Joseph he spoke these words that we still sing today, an ode to the Christ child who would be light and glory.

Jesus was the light to the non-Jewish people who did not yet know about salvation in him. He would be the glory of Israel too. Being the nation that produced the Savior of the world was Israel’s greatest honor. We who are the body of Christ are also light and glory. We bring light to a dark world by showing the love of Christ. We work for the glory of God by giving him all credit for the good we do and, more importantly, for the good he has done to us.
However, while this is all true, it doesn’t always seem to fit reality. Maybe this is true for the people who seem to have it all together (they don’t, by the way) but not for regular people just trying to make it through the day. It seems a little pointless to call us light and glory. But we are light and glory precisely because it is not about us.

We are not light and glory because we do good. We are light and glory because we are sinners whom God loved. There is no need to hide our frailty in an attempt to look good to our students, to their parents, or to anybody else we meet. God’s greatest glory is dying for sinners. This is light in a dark world. And as if that were not enough, God uses sinners like us to carry out his work of love.

You are role models to your students and parents. You know this. However, this does not mean that you have to be perfect. In fact, that would work against being a good role model. Being sinners humbled by God’s demands but lifted up by his love and forgiveness to a startling degree is how we are his glory and light to the world.

Prayer: Jesus Christ, make us your light and glory. When our students see their teachers, may they first see sinners saved in your beautiful grace. Amen.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

We are told to “work hard” but also to have “life balance.” We are told to “go all in” but also to “put ourselves first.” So what gives? It’s a mixed message at best, flat out opposites at worst. Where can I find joy if I am always working hard and not thinking of myself? On the other hand, how can I have a meaningful life if I am only living for myself? We know that this kind of selfishness does not lead to a full life.

The answer is that we are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. It is something that comes from outside. It fills us. It is a gift and the gift comes from the Holy Spirit. Christ has defeated death. How could we not be filled with joy? We have received the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls. How could we not leap for joy?

Of course, this is easier said than done when the half the class is sick, you are concerned one student is showing signs of autism, and the budget just got cut… and it is only Tuesday! Now the question becomes: how could we possibly have joy? First, Christ’s work of salvation cannot be undone. It is a fact of history not affected by your bad day or terrible week. This salvation is yours no matter what happens. Second, you get to be a part of this work of joy. You get to be the deliverer of love. You get to be the proclaimer of grace. You get to be the one, maybe the only one in a particular child’s life, that shows him or her what an undeserved kind of love looks like.

Oh, and one more thing. Christ will get his work done with or without you. The pressure is off. Not all depends on you. This is the freedom of the gospel. Work hard, have joy, and believe that Christ will fulfill his promises.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, give us the gift of joy in Christ’s salvation and the gift of joy in our work. May our witness of joy bring more to faith in Christ. Amen.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

“Hurry up and wait” was a phrase I often heard growing up. When a great event or important change in life was far off in the future, we had to “hurry up and wait”. The urgency was there but we had to wait. It is hard to wait. Ask any child promised a trip to Disneyland or to McDonald’s for that matter. It’s just as hard for adults to wait. Ask anybody waiting for a tax-refund or waiting for grandchildren to finally be born.

The person for whom we wait the most is Jesus. We wait for his return to take us to heaven. We wait for his promises of joy and peace to be fulfilled. We wait. But we wait in hope. And in this hope we will not be disappointed. We may not like the wait but we will not be disappointed. In heaven there is an ocean of bliss for every drop of frustration on earth.

Nor are we disappointed with Christ’s work here on earth. Again, we might grumble at the wait but not the results, that is, if we have the gift of a true hope. Think about the school year. At the beginning it might seem like speaking to little ones is like speaking to a wall. You are not quite sure anybody is actually listening. Why bother? But then the last weeks of the school year come and you remind yourself how far these kids have grown in a few short months. It was worth it, wasn’t it? And even if you did not see the results you were hoping for, you know that what you said might bear fruit the next year, the year after that, or even twenty years down the road. That’s out of your hands. So you hope.

In a more powerful way we place our hope in Christ not yet seeing all that he does behind the scenes through us and through others who serve us. This is hope. Hope is in what is unseen. Yet it is not blind. We see Christ’s track record. He has not let us down yet. He has fulfilled prophecy after prophecy. He has loved the unlovable. He died for us sinners and rose from the dead to defeat death for us. Why doubt? Sure, waiting is tough but with this hope we plug along in the sure conviction that Christ will make all things right for us.

Prayer: My God and Savior, give me the hope of a future great reward and lead me to love those around me in great joy. Amen.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Be joyful always.” Wow, that’s a tall order! God blesses me daily, but I admit that there are many times when I don’t radiate joy. It’s difficult to be happy when I feel the press of many tasks to be completed or when I’m faced with challenging students or parents or difficult home situations. How can I be joyful always?

One thing to remember is that God’s definition of joy does not match the world’s definition. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines joy as being “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune.” God, however, does not promise us an earthly life without troubles. Because of our sin, we will face troubles and sad times. Even Jesus, the one who never sinned, felt sadness at his friend Lazarus’ death.

True joy goes deeper than happiness at good fortune. True joy is knowing that even in our deepest times of sorrow, our Savior is with us. He draws us closer to him through our suffering. He comforts and reassures us, promising a perfect life with him. Because that’s the goal, isn’t it? We walk this path of uncertainties and difficulties knowing that Jesus, our Savior, is guiding us to be with him forever. The apostle Peter wrote, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

With this outlook, our joy will show, but not necessarily by a smile or a cheerful face. Our joy in Jesus shines when we trust our Lord to help us in times of trouble as in times of contentment. It shines when we share the reason for our joy with the people around us. It shines when we talk to our Savior and thank him for all that he does for us. It shines because our joy doesn’t originate in us; it comes from the source and creator of all – our Lord Jesus Christ. So yes, be joyful always, confident that this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord of glory, you have bought us with your lifeblood as the price,
Never grudging for the lost ones that tremendous sacrifice.
Give us faith to trust you boldly, hope, to stay our souls on you;
But, oh, best of all your graces, with your love our love renew.
Amen.

Christian Worship 486:5

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:10-11

“My God is so big, so strong and so mighty; there’s nothing my God cannot do!” Perhaps you know this song and are humming it in your mind right now. It is a current favorite in my classroom. The students love singing about their strong God who can do everything.

What a blessing to know our God is mighty! It’s not so easy to be strong, as today’s passage encourages. We live in a world of temptations, troubles, and trials. The devil uses anything he can to draw our focus away from our Savior. On our own, we cannot stand up to him. But our almighty God can, and he did! He loves us so much he sacrificed his own Son. In Jesus we see the true strength of our God on display, the strength to set aside his power so that he might take our place and we might have salvation. “Jesus made himself nothing…and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8). Our all-powerful God has not forsaken us.

Not only did God save us, he also equips us to stand against the devil’s schemes. He provides armor that can withstand any enemy: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17). As we read and study God’s Word, we become stronger. Armed with God’s true, powerful word, we battle the devil’s lies and temptations. We get to help others put on their armor as we share Jesus’ love with our students, school families, and each other. God gives us his strength.

My students’ favorite part of singing “My God Is So Big” is the ending. After singing about the wonderful things God has done, they finish with, “There’s nothing my God cannot do FOR YOU!” No matter what we are facing, God is stronger, God is mightier. He gives us the strength and armor to be strong in the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord of love, we bow before you, humbled by your constant grace.
Word incarnate, sent from heaven, on the cross you took our place.
By your death and resurrection, we shall live through endless days!
Lord of life, we sing your praise.

Christian Worship 237:3

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

I Corinthians 2:4-5

“I don’t know what to say. I am afraid I won’t say it well enough or won’t say the right thing. I get so nervous when people ask me.”

Do you ever feel like that or find yourself saying these things? While you work with small children, your work is significant and impactful. It carries a lot of responsibility for a child’s learning, for their social and emotional development, and especially for their spiritual growth. However, you don’t just care for the children. To be as effective as possible, you realize that a strong partnership and relationship with the family is vital. And as you work together with the parents and caregivers, difficult questions or situations can come up and you find yourself looking for the words to say. It may be a challenging behavior, a severely sick child or family member, or a death in the family. Sometimes parents will come to you with questions about matters of faith. You know that this is an opportunity to encourage the family with the comfort of the Word, but you are searching for the best way to say it or are hesitant to respond.

In our reading today, Paul was speaking to the people of the congregation in Corinth. This was a city and time where scholarly wisdom from eloquent speakers was highly regarded. While our impression of Paul may be that he was an impressive orator, he indicates the opposite. Can you imagine how nervous he may have been to address this audience with concern for the success of his preaching? But in the text today, Paul admits that he is not wise and persuasive, at least not by the standards that the Corinthians were used to. His words had an impact and the church grew but not because of Paul. It was the Holy Spirit’s work in people’s hearts that made them see that the wisdom of the world is foolishness and true wisdom is in God. All the power, all the wisdom, all the impact was because of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word. It wasn’t Paul at all. I can almost hear him exhale. I can almost hear you exhale.

You have a great responsibility for sure. You are possibly a child’s first teacher outside their home. You have a privilege and opportunity to share the powerful message of God’s grace with the children and with their families. It’s not about you. It’s not about your gift for speaking. It’s about the Holy Spirit’s power and work in the hearts of those with whom you share the gospel. Your weakness reminds you to lean on God and your nervousness reflects how important this message is. But have confidence in the One for whom you speak. You know the message. It is God’s message of love for sinners, forgiveness, and grace through Jesus. Pray for opportunities to share this message. Pray for humility and boldness and that the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of those who hear.

Prayer:
Lord, first I want to thank you for the privilege to share your message of grace with the children and families I serve. Please give me both humility and confidence to tell them about you, about your love, your forgiveness, your grace. Remind me to be confident in the Holy Spirit’s work and the power of your Word. In your name I pray. Amen

Something to Consider:
Last week you may have made a list of people you would like to witness to. Sometimes our hesitancy is in not knowing what to say. This week, write down a few key thoughts and Bible verses that can help you in those conversations. You may also want to include people who can help when you don’t have the answers. Include a note that reminds you of the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts of people. It’s not about you or me; it’s all about Jesus.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Colossians 4:2-4

This month our devotions focus on the theme and message of the new movie from the Commission on Evangelism— To the Ends of the Earth. The movie follows Paul’s remarkable visit to the city of Philippi, recorded in Acts 16 and how the gospel is for all. Today we consider praying for those who proclaim the gospel.
One of the highlights of any day is getting a Facetime call from one of our sons, their wives, or our grandchildren. No matter what I’m doing or what my mood is, I’m always delighted to hear from them. I want to hear all the details of their lives including the joys and the struggles.

Our heavenly Father is even more eager to hear from those he loves. In our verses today, he tells us to devote ourselves to prayer. He wants to hear from us through prayer. He wants to listen as we share our grateful thanks, our repentant confessions, and our pleas to him for help with struggles. He also wants to hear our intercessions for others.

Did you know that there is a “Pray for your Pastor” month? There is, and this is it! During October you may see reminders to keep your pastor in your prayers. The writer of today’s reading is the apostle Paul who is asking the Colossian people to pray for him and those who serve with him. He’s not asking for himself but for the message he is sharing. Paul asks that the Colossians pray boldly that the Lord would open doors of opportunity to share the gospel message and that God would give him wisdom and courage to proclaim the gospel faithfully and effectively.

We all have human limitations and so do our pastors and missionaries. They, like us, live in a sinful world that is not always receptive to the gospel. They have God-given gifts, but they also have areas where they struggle. They will tell you what a blessing it is and what an encouragement it is to know that God’s people are holding them up in prayer.

So, this month, today, or any day, pray for pastors and missionaries. Thank God for their heart for sharing God’s message of grace. Thank God for their faithful dedication to the work to which they are called. Pray boldly that God opens door after door of opportunities for them to share God’s forgiveness and grace. Pray that the messenger does not get in the way of a clear and powerful proclamation of the gospel. Pray also that he provides you with the same opportunities and the eagerness to share God’s amazing grace—to the ends of the earth!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, to your true servants give the grace to you alone to live.
Set free from sin to serve you, Lord, they go to share your living Word,
The gospel message to proclaim that all may know your saving name.

They gladly go at your command to spread your Word o’er sea and land.
Be with them Lord, and make them strong to heal sin’s ills, to right the wrong.
Your rule is over wind and wave, and mighty is your arm to save.

When all their labor seems in vain, revive their sinking hopes again;
And when success crowns what they do, oh, keep them humble, Lord, and true
Until before your judgment seat they lay their trophies at your feet. Amen

Christian Worship 542

Something to Consider:
What are ways that you can encourage your students to pray for your pastor, other pastors, and for missionaries? Is there a way to let them know you and your class are praying for them?

A suite of supplemental materials to go along with the new movie, To the Ends of the Earth have been developed for teachers. To check out these materials, including a Bible lesson for early childhood and one for primary grades, go to welscongregationalservices.net/c18

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

“It’s like herding cats!” Have you ever thought that as you were working to guide a group of young children from point A to point B? The younger they are, the more unaware they can seem to your direction and guidance. As you gently turn them in the direction you would like them to go, they eventually or even immediately turn back towards the things that have their attention. Especially when safety comes into play, this can be a challenge for sure.

Can’t we be just like that wandering child? We can toddle along with our focus drawn from one thing to the next. We get at our tasks and daily list of things to do sometimes without much thought. We have our plans, our goals, our dreams. And when all is well, we continue on with self-assured confidence.

Are you like me? Do you often wait until things are not so well to turn to the Lord? Do you wait until you’ve exhausted all other options and then smack your forehead and say, “I can ask Jesus for help with this one!” We are wrapped in a human nature that is independent to a fault. We, like the toddler, want to do it ourselves and do it our way. And all the while, our patient and loving Lord is there. He wants to hear, wants to guide, wants us to follow him. Through the Word, he provides the answers we need for our earthly journey. Our verses today provide a wonderful prayer for us.

“Show me your ways, O LORD.” We so often get so stuck in our own ways that we can lose sight of you and your love for us. What are your ways, Lord? In this prayer we ask you to show them to us, so we don’t get stuck in our own sinful ways. Show us the path you want for us. We have so many things before us and life can feel like there is a multi-pronged fork in the road. The truths you have given us in your Word can guide and teach us. Help us listen to you and learn from you.

The last two phrases express a confidence in the one to whom we pray. “You are my God and Savior.” What more do we need to know? What here on earth can provide even a fraction of what God has done and continues to do for us? Our life is full of challenges, disappointment, fear, and heartache. What can we cling to? Our hope is in the Lord not just today but every day. Why? Because, unlike the world, the Lord’s ways, paths, and truths are all founded in his overwhelming love for us. His ways, his path, his truth can provide guidance and direction today but also lead us to the ultimate goal, heaven. He is our one true hope and we can have unshakable confidence in him.

When you are shepherding your group of little ones, recall Jesus’ loving and yet firm guidance for you. In faith, be open and eager to learn from him. When you stray, turn to him for his forgiveness. We can trust him completely as he guides us on his path, in his truth, as God our Savior.

Prayer:

Lord, take my hand and lead me upon life’s way;
Direct, protect, and feed me from day to day.
Without your grace and favor I go astray;
So take my hand, O Savior, and lead the way. Amen.

Christian Worship 439:1

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

“The love of Jesus permeates the early childhood ministry’s culture and establishes the bond among students, teachers, and parents.” (Building Blocks: A Handbook for Beginning and Operating a Christian Early Childhood Ministry 2015 WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools)

This statement is included as one of the essential characteristics of a WELS early childhood ministry. One of the words that stands out is “permeates.” Dictionary.com defines permeate as: “to pass into or through every part of.” I think of sugar in a cup of tea. Once it’s in there, it’s in every sip and cannot be removed again. Or yeast affecting the whole lump of dough. It’s integrated into every drop of the cup of tea or morsel of the loaf of bread.

Our verse today reminds us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Every day, as you read the Bible, study the Bible story lesson, share a devotion with a colleague, or worship in your church, the Holy Spirit is filling you with the word of Christ as you grow in faith and knowledge. And when our hearts are filled, it’s easier to share with those around us.

Think of your day with the little ones, their families, your colleagues. Jesus is part of every little thing and every big thing you do each day. While you likely aren’t speaking about Jesus at every moment and in every conversation, you can still reflect him in your warmth, your understanding, your patience, your joy. Your share Jesus as you kneel next to a young child and marvel at the caterpillar, created by God. Jesus is part of your conversation as you comfort a child who is sad or frightened. We share Jesus when we comment about how incredible it is that Jesus heals their scraped knee. Jesus is there when we model forgiveness with a child or ask for forgiveness from a colleague or parent. Jesus is not something we reserve for Bible story time, devotions, or prayer time. He permeates everything. He is the heart of what we do all day long.

Your days are full. They are full of highs and lows, joys and disappointments. But as you experience each moment, you can look to God’s precious word for wisdom, guidance, encouragement, and forgiveness when we fail. We also find a multitude of expressions of joy in God’s word that reflect our delight in the blessings all around us.

So, be in the Word and let it dwell in you richly so that you more consistently and faithfully reflect Christ. Then teach each other, encourage each other, and sing with a heart that is full of joy that can only come from the precious news of the gospel you know and are privileged to share. Let it permeate all you do all day, every day.

Prayer: Dear Lord, fill me up with your Word. Then help me to share you with all those around me each day, all day. In your name I pray. Amen

Something to Consider: Have a discussion with your staff on ways that you can read and study the Word together and how growth shows itself in various ways. Also talk about ways that you see and hear each other share Jesus throughout the day.