“Love, Peace, and Caring for Others”

By George Nielsen

Publisher's Note:  This post was originally published in the Rochester Christian Church 5th Grade Sunday School Class Blog on February 12, 2013.    It is an inspirational message and a prayer.  It has been republished here so more readers can be inspired by it.   God Bless you.

“Love, Peace, and Caring for Others”

Jesus cares for us and has great compassion -- He understands our weaknesses and wants to help us.  Our Bible Adventures lesson (“Jesus Cares”) had two examples of Jesus helping people in need, and our Key Verse from the Holy Bible declares how God still stands ready today to help those who are connected to Him -- “the family of God.”    The verse is Philippians   4: 19 which says:

My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Our class motto is We Serve Jesus.  As young disciples of Jesus, we can serve our Lord by being His hands and feet, that is, being the people who do practical work of serving that helps others.   And we can use our spiritual gifts in ministry that helps and blesses others -- extending further the influence of the Kingdom of God, here on the earth, as it is in heaven.   Jesus said we should be “a light” -- that pushes back the darkness of evil in this world.   People that still need to Come to Jesus for forgiveness can be drawn to Him by our service and ministry to them.

Bible Adventures published a prayer written by Saint Francis of Assisi that can be read for inspiration and encouragement, and also spoken in prayer to God by disciples, today.   It is reprinted below:

LORD, make me an instrument of Thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; Not so much to be understood as to understand;  

Not so much to be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;  It is in dying that we awaken to eternal life.