2025-06-13
Good morning, Dear Ones,
When I mentioned the idea of service previously, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I should write about how dependent and self-absorbed an infant is. That’s natural, and the infant must have its needs met by parents around him or her. Raising a healthy child (physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually is one of the most important responsibilities an adult has. When this is done by dysfunctional parents, or parents that are too young, that child doesn’t thrive. I don’t know why the Lord allows infants and children to grow up in severe poverty or in a war zone like the Gaza Strip but surely, He has His reasons. At home in this country, some children are born unwanted, resulting from ill-conceived and uncommitted relationships. These are the ones that are at high risk for drug/alcohol issues or who are left to be cared for by others never knowing their genetic parents. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ has called His followers to set up organizations like Feed the Starving Children and many others, food and clothing banks, and the like. Jose Andres, the famous Spanish chef, has an organization called World Kitchen that goes into war-torn areas (sometimes at great risk) to relieve hunger, for example. 1 PET 4: 10-11, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful steward of God’s grace in its various forms. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
To be compliant with the Lord’s will, we should use our gifts to help these children with their needs. That means knowing the difference between wants and needs, encouraging good self-concepts in them, and giving parental care and advice with kindness. We must remember Christ’s words in MT 25: 35-40. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly I tell you, whatever your did for the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.”
As a child becomes an adult, he goes through the teen years, where the need for a parent’s wisdom and leadership is important, only in a different way, than it was before. Without defeating that teenager, there needs to be a firm but kind and wise gradual release of freedom to make decisions. If training in his early years included the values our Lord teaches us, those decisions made by a teenager are more likely to include wisdom ethically including lessons in compassion for the needs of others. PR 19: 21, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” This is hard for people to swallow at times, but we must remember God is sovereign and we are not. Treating others with respect is necessary for all of us, children or adults alike. There is great truth in AC 20: 35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Furthermore, we can take comfort in our efforts, as HE 6: 10 reminds us, “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”
We all want our children to mature into responsible, kind and wise adults. Sadly, too many of them are spending inordinate time on their devices and are not learning to reach out and connect with others. Caring for our children means feeding them healthy foods, physically, training them to make regular exercise a habit and get the right amount of sleep. It also includes allowing them to feel good about themselves, noticing their accomplishments, correcting their errors in an age- appropriate way, teaching them to make wise decisions (even if it means they must sometimes suffer negative consequences of these mistakes), and giving them well-conceived direction. Spiritually, we want our children to know the Lord. That means taking them to a place of worship regularly, encouraging involvement in faith-based activities, and practicing good ethics in the home. As for their intellect, encourage them to stay in school and to follow carefully chosen careers that fit their skill sets and give them satisfaction. RO 12: 10, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Encourage young people to take responsibility for their choices and actions.
PRAYER: O Lord, You have given us a way out from the burden of our sin, through Your Son, Jesus Christ. 1 PET 1: 3, “Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” We are more than grateful for the blessings You give us each day. Service to others begins with the blessing of our children to rear. Lord, You want us to rear them to be unselfish and to care for others in need. Long ago, in EZK 36: 26-27, You promised to give us a new heart that serves You. As we do that, we are also serving those around us. There is no wisdom greater than Yours, and we offer You our love, devotion, loyalty, service, praise, and thanksgiving for making it available to us through and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Holy Spirit commands me to write about friendship with the Lord next week. Infants that are born needing to be totally absorbed with their own needs can gradually mature into adults who are balanced between their own needs and those of others. With accepting the influence of the Lord Jesus in our lives, we can become the people who please Him and conform to His will. 1 SAM 12: 24, Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart, consider what great things He has done for you.” Having an attitude of gratitude indicates we acknowledge the great blessings He bestows on us. Praise and thanksgiving be to Him.”
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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