Today we continue with the theme of ‘Faith of a Child’. Two weeks ago, we started with ‘Believe like a Child’. Last week we looked at ‘Grow like a Child’.
Jesus taught us that the Faith of a Child was the most important way to start our walk with Him. Once our faith and belief in Jesus is established and our walk with Him starts, we need to grow! As we grow, we learn that we should serve God with all our being. And how do we serve? Come see!
John 6: 5-13 NIV
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,
9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).
11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
Here we have the story of Jesus feeding the 5000-plus people with just five loaves and two small fish. A miracle that amazed all who were there and all that have read about it since. Do you realize that it took a small boy who gave all he had so God had a base for the miracle? That is serving!
When is the last time God asked you to give all you have so He could do a miracle? Do you think He wants us to do that today?
In the past two weeks we have looked at how a child believes – trusting and totally in faith! We looked at how a child grows – by trusting and learning eagerly!
Now we look at serving, and we see that a child serves completely and faithfully – trusting that it is enough!
We know many Bible stories of young people serving God totally and faithfully.
In Daniel, chapter three, we read of Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who refuse to bow before King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. Because they chose to serve God with all they have and not bow to the image, they were thrown into a fiery furnace.
Daniel 3: 13-18 NIV
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
We know the rest of the story! They do not die in the fire, are not even singed. God took their total service and did a miracle with them.
Three chapters later we have Daniel himself being told to stop praying to God and asking anything of Him. Daniel continues to serve God in prayer and into the lion’s den he goes.
Daniel 6: 13-17 NIV
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”
14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.
Again, a young person gives total service which God uses to do a miracle.
Are you getting the theme, the plan, the idea? God wants our total willingness to serve with all we have and then He can and will do miracles with us.
One of the main ways we serve God is through love! What does that look like? Here is one example to consider:
1 John 3: 16-18 NIV
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
I look at this church and see people serving in love. We have ladies that provide food for potlucks, funerals and special occasions. We have men who provide loading and unloading for people who are moving or flooded out. We have some who assist with the Networks Ministry, Young Life, The Ark Christian Youth Centre, Camp Sagitawa, visiting the shut-in and lonely people. I know there are more that I have not mentioned and there are many more ways that we could be serving – just ask God to show you where you can be most effective!
Mark Mittelberg, in his book “Building a Contagious Church”, gives many examples of how we could serve faithfully, trusting and complete. He states: ‘There’s certainly no shortage of situations in which we can reach out to people by serving them. In fact, many effective organizations have been built on this combination of serving the tangible needs of people while pointing them to the truth of Christ…And it all started with compassionate, no-strings-attached service done in the name of Jesus Christ!’[1]
I do recommend this book if you are looking for ways to serve God, and especially if you feel this church can be more contagious for God!
Finally, I will close with this thought and Scripture. When we accept Jesus Christ and His gift of eternal life, we are given gifts to use in service to God. Those gifts are not to be put on a shelf or hidden out in the garage. They are to be used to serve others and honor God!
1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
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