Kids Bible Devotional for November 26, 2024
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Focus Verse
Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (NLT)
Jump Start
Hello. How may I serve you today?
You have probably been greeted like this before. For example, at a restaurant your server might say: “Hello my name is Mark, and I will be your server. Can I start you out with drinks or an appetizer?”
Or perhaps you or your parents got someone in customer support on the line who said, “Hi, my name is Matthew. How may I assist you?”
When we think of service, we often think of it in terms of these commercial settings. However, this assistance is usually provided by people whose job it is to help you. When we think of service in terms of the Bible, it typically involves acts of humility, compassion, and selflessness.
No one makes us do good deeds. We are drawn to do good by our own empathy toward others and by the Holy Spirit. We find examples of this in the Bible. Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, the kindness of the Good Samaritan, or the sacrificial giving of the widow with her offering of two mites. We serve because we love.
Today's Devotion
When the dismissal bell rang, Lucy, Claire, and Brooklyn piled out of the classroom, excited about the upcoming Thanksgiving break.
“I’m so glad we have a whole week away from school!” Claire exclaimed. “My dad rented us a cabin in the mountains. We’re headed there tomorrow to go skiing and stuff our faces full of turkey and dressing.”
“We’re going to my grandparents’ house in Ohio,” Brooklyn said. “All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins will be there. We will have enough food to feed an army! I can’t wait to have a piece of Grandma’s pecan pie. She should really open a bakery. What are you doing, Lucy?”
“We serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless at the downtown food kitchen,” Lucy replied.
“You do?” asked Claire. “You don’t do anything fun?”
“Or have a big Thanksgiving meal?” Brooklyn added.
“Actually, it is fun for us. We’ll go to a restaurant afterward. We started doing this about three years ago after my brother served on a church community service team.”
“Now, I feel bad about going skiing,” Claire said.
“Yeah, way to burst our bubble, Luce,” Brooklyn joked. “I’m just kidding. I think it’s super cool what you’re doing.”
“Thanks! You can say it’s now become a family tradition. It feels good to do something nice for other people,” Lucy said.
Wrap Up
Toward the end of Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells of a King who says to those on his right hand, when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was naked, you clothed me. The righteous asked, “When were you hungry, or thirsty, or naked?” The King replied, “As you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
Serving others is something Jesus taught us to do. In a true servant of God beats the heart of compassion.
Ask the Lord if there is anything you can do to serve members of your church, your community, or students in your school.
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