"Come, follow me" Jesus said. Dear Parents,
We don't know a lot about the people who became Jesus' twelve disciples. Peter, James and John were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. We call Thomas the doubter. Jesus knew that despite the differences in their backgrounds and personalities, the twelve would help to carry the Gospel message to the world. "Come, follow me" Jesus said.
Our devotions for the week of [March 28-April 3 +follow me] focus on what we as Christians are called to do. The twelve disciples were willing to give up everything to follow Christ. Would we be willing to do the same? Matthew 25:40 says "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' " Jesus tells us exactly what it is he wants us to do! Each of us receives our own unique call. Jesus knows what we can do and tailors his call to our abilities. Some of us may be called to spread the Gospel; others, to do something new and different. Jesus may call us to go to places we never imagined or to stay at home and reach out to our neighbors. Jesus' call will take us beyond what we do today and comes with the understanding that, in responding, we too will have a chance to change the world.
Ask your child...
If we follow Jesus, what guides our decision-making?
How do we decide what classes to take, what job to apply for, whom to hang out with?
Encourage your child...
We see in John 4:1-42 a clear glimpse of how Jesus made decisions [the story of the Samaritan woman]. This woman bore life's battle scars. The way people treated the woman was a constant reminder of her past mistakes, and she probably felt worthless. But Jesus has a way with people; nothing - certainly not past mistakes - persuades him to stop loving us - ever! People mean more to Jesus than the rules or customs of the culture. Remind your teen that when Jesus whispers to us in the silence of our darkest hour, saying "I was there when you were born; I know everything about you and I love you" he means it. He asks us to live by grace and to love others no matter how different they are from us. Loving people is a choice. God does not expect perfection. The next time you see someone who is different or a person society is willing to discard, remember that you have a choice to live by grace or to live the empty life of judgment. Choose grace. Choose life. Follow Jesus.
Challenge your child...
Make a list of choices, big and small, that you will make in the next week or two or even the next year or two. Think about how grace informs each choice.
What does following Jesus mean for the decisions you will make?
Prayer...
Lord, thank you for calling us to follow. You have prepared and equipped us with everything we need to be the people you want us to be. Let us not fear where your calling may lead, but give us courage to live in ways that are worthy of you, lifting you name high and loving you with all our hearts. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
We don't know a lot about the people who became Jesus' twelve disciples. Peter, James and John were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. We call Thomas the doubter. Jesus knew that despite the differences in their backgrounds and personalities, the twelve would help to carry the Gospel message to the world. "Come, follow me" Jesus said.
Our devotions for the week of [March 28-April 3 +follow me] focus on what we as Christians are called to do. The twelve disciples were willing to give up everything to follow Christ. Would we be willing to do the same? Matthew 25:40 says "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' " Jesus tells us exactly what it is he wants us to do! Each of us receives our own unique call. Jesus knows what we can do and tailors his call to our abilities. Some of us may be called to spread the Gospel; others, to do something new and different. Jesus may call us to go to places we never imagined or to stay at home and reach out to our neighbors. Jesus' call will take us beyond what we do today and comes with the understanding that, in responding, we too will have a chance to change the world.
Ask your child...
If we follow Jesus, what guides our decision-making?
How do we decide what classes to take, what job to apply for, whom to hang out with?
Encourage your child...
We see in John 4:1-42 a clear glimpse of how Jesus made decisions [the story of the Samaritan woman]. This woman bore life's battle scars. The way people treated the woman was a constant reminder of her past mistakes, and she probably felt worthless. But Jesus has a way with people; nothing - certainly not past mistakes - persuades him to stop loving us - ever! People mean more to Jesus than the rules or customs of the culture. Remind your teen that when Jesus whispers to us in the silence of our darkest hour, saying "I was there when you were born; I know everything about you and I love you" he means it. He asks us to live by grace and to love others no matter how different they are from us. Loving people is a choice. God does not expect perfection. The next time you see someone who is different or a person society is willing to discard, remember that you have a choice to live by grace or to live the empty life of judgment. Choose grace. Choose life. Follow Jesus.
Challenge your child...
Make a list of choices, big and small, that you will make in the next week or two or even the next year or two. Think about how grace informs each choice.
What does following Jesus mean for the decisions you will make?
Prayer...
Lord, thank you for calling us to follow. You have prepared and equipped us with everything we need to be the people you want us to be. Let us not fear where your calling may lead, but give us courage to live in ways that are worthy of you, lifting you name high and loving you with all our hearts. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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