Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director, LHBC
Mark 9:37 (NLT)
“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”
Who was your favorite teacher? What made them stand out this many years later? Teachers certainly make a difference in the lives of children, so do the many administrators and support staff who pour into educating our kids. When was the last time you prayed for our city’s teachers and schools?
We are blessed to live in a nation where our kids can attend schools for free. Our schools have walls, running water, heating and air conditioning, buses to transport, and free lunch to those in need. Just think about the large web of people it takes to make all of that happen every single day. Our Clarksville Montgomery County School System alone has over 5,000 employees according to their website today, and serves around 39,000 students!
Teaching is hard work and often a thankless job. Whether public, private, or home school, let’s pray for our schools. Let’s say thank you for educating and caring for our children. Thank you to principals, coaches, bus drivers, custodians…every single one of you has a special role in a child’s life today. But it is easy to lose sight in any profession, that we can show the love and joy of Christ and model how Jesus lived. It matters that children (and people of all ages)feel welcome and noticed, that they receive a smile, and kind words.
Jesus says in Mark 9:37, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” Jesus had just finished teaching His disciples about humbleness and servanthood when He spoke this. He explained that the goal wasn’t about who could be the greatest, or be in first place. In today’s self-driven, me-first society, that can be especially hard to remember. But Jesus says look at others. Welcome others. Love others. Serve others. Jesus modeled a servant heart by welcoming the least of these. He then welcomed a member of the vulnerable and helpless—He welcomed a tiny child. As Jesus cradled that little one, I can just imagine a tiny set of eyes staring into His. Perhaps a curious little hand reached up to touch the face that spoke. What love this little one must have felt in the arms of his Savior! May this image remind us to stop striving to be the first, best, and greatest. Instead, may we imitate Christ and be the hands and feet of Jesus to the least of these today.
With students heading back to school all across our county will you stand in the gap in prayer for our children and schools today?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, we pray for our schools today. Keep them safe. Place a hedge of Your mighty protection over every single one of them. We lift up our teachers, staff and students today. We also pray for our college and university professors as well as mamas who will gather children around her today in homeschool. Renew this day for all of them with your strength and lovingkindness. We pray for their patience and wisdom. May they model the love of Jesus. We pray for students to have a spirit of obedience and willingness to learn, and kindness among their peers. Give our students and staff boldness and clarity to speak of You and live out the gospel message. May every believer, young and old, who enters our schools be reminded that it is a mission field. May our teachers and staff recognize that their encouraging words and actions make a difference. Whether in the classroom, administrating, serving lunch, mowing grass or making building repairs, may they be Your hands and feet, Jesus. All of this we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Matthew 7:28-29
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.