Good morning boys and
girls! :) It’s been a long time since I’ve seen most of you! How was your
summer? Did you do lots of fun stuff?
Did you play lots of
sports? How many of you won or were on a team that won? It’s fun to win, isn’t
it? Now, who actually lost or was on a team that lost? That wasn’t fun, was it?
Everyone likes winning or being first, but no one likes being last or losing.
The
disciples felt the same way at times. For example, in Mark 9:30-37, they argued about which one of them would be
first in God’s Kingdom. Jesus
said that anyone who wants to be first in God’s Kingdom must be last on earth
by serving everyone, including the less fortunate. In a moment I’m going to
read you a story that shows what he means, but before I do I’m going to ask you
a question. Do any of you know what an obstacle race is? Well, for those of you
who don’t, it’s a race course where at points along the way you have to do
things like walk across a log, climb a rope, climb over a wall or run like this
through a set of tires.
One day at a church Bible
Club party, the teacher announced, "Next we'll have an obstacle race.
Let's go outside, and I'll give you the instructions."
Drew frowned. "Andy
always wins," he muttered. "I never do."
When everyone was at the
starting point, the teacher explained that they all would be following the same
course, and they would have to overcome the same obstacles. "At some of
them, you'll find directions that you must follow before you can move on,"
the teacher said. Then he blew his whistle, and the kids dashed off.
"I hate
crawling," moaned Drew when he reached a tunnel.
"Me, too,"
agreed Tamara. "Guess we'll be last together."
"Whoa!" yelled
Drew a little later as he slipped off a rail that had to be crossed.
"Don't wait for me. I'm used to being last alone," he joked.
Drew finally puffed up to
the last obstacle--a wall. "Why is everyone just standing here?" he
asked when he saw everyone waiting. "What's the problem?"
Andy frowned and pointed
to the directions. "I got here first and have to help everyone over the
wall in the opposite order that they got here. You're the last one, so that
means you get to go over the wall first," he said.
When Andy finally dropped
over the wall, all the other kids had already crossed the finish line. He
frowned at the teacher. "It's not fair," Andy complained. "I was
winning, but now I'm last!"
"Hey, Andy, look what
I got for coming in first," said Drew, holding up a trophy. He read aloud
the inscription on it. "Many who are first will be last, and the last
first." He grinned. "Thanks for helping me win, Andy."
The teacher smiled.
"You did very well, Andy," he said, pulling another trophy from a box
and handing it to Andy. "This is for your great job at the wall."
After the kids applauded,
Andy read out loud the inscription on his trophy. "If anyone desires to be
first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Andy looked at the
teacher. Then he grinned at Drew. "Thanks for helping me win, too,
Drew!"
So you see, boys and
girls, by helping the other kids during the obstacle race, Andy was a true
winner. Jesus would be very proud of him.
Let us bow our heads and
close our eyes for a moment of prayer.
Dear God, thank you for
reminding us that in your eyes, we are first if we help those who need our
help. Open our eyes for chances to help other people and show them the love you
have for us. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
No comments:
Post a Comment