Jessica Albritton, Family Connections Minister, LHBC
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:2
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
Part of my job on a Sunday morning is making sure we get a good headcount for all the littles and elementary school kids participating in the church’s KidMin. Getting an accurate headcount helps our church as we grow knowing how many resources are needed on a given Sunday. I sneak around to all the classrooms once kids are settled down, peep through the door, count quietly, and then sneak back out, usually undetected. There have been a handful of Sundays however where I am caught. A kid will catch a glimpse of me out of the corner of their eye, spin around making eye contact, and all bets are off. I have been found out, my cover is blown, and instantly the whole class has lost focus. All the kids turn around and stare at me wide eyed. In unison they all call out, “What are you doing Miss. Jessica!?” I reply back, “Just counting… We count people because people count!” That usually earns me a few confused looks from the kids but the leaders get a good laugh from it. I have never given the interaction much thought until a few days ago. One Wednesday night a few days ago one of our sweet little 4th graders came bouncing over to me all excited. “Miss, Jessica, I made you something!” She digs in her bag and pulls out a strip of paper resembling a bookmark. On the handmade craft was the phrase, we count people because people count. I smiled and gave her a big hug and thanked her for the thoughtful gift. Wow, I thought, what a little sponge… even when I thought they weren’t paying attention she was soaking it all in.
Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth understood the importance of setting an example for godly living. Paul reminds the believers they are being watched by those that might not know Jesus as their savior and should do all things to the glory of God for the sake of those that have yet to place their faith in him. Paul goes on in chapter 11 to tell the readers to be imitators of him as he imitates Christ. Paul dedicated his entire life to Christ and embodied the Great Commission with his actions. He made every effort to live for Christ with everything he said and did. His life’s purpose was to live in such a way that others would look at him and see Christ. What a great way to live. Wouldn’t it be that we all, as Christ followers, live that way. Remember friends, if we have proclaimed Christ as our savior we have been set apart and are held to a higher standard. We are called to be like Christ and make Him known. There are little sponges everywhere watching, picking up on how we respond to all that life may bring. So remember, wherever you are, in whatever circumstance you may find yourself in, be sure to live a life set apart so that it brings glory to the God that saved you. In your living strive to be an example that others can follow and be closer to Christ in the process.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the example that You set in coming to earth and living the perfect sinless life. Help me to live a life set apart and focused on You. May I be an example for others that when they see me, they see You. May my life bring glory and point others to You. In Jesus name, amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.