Most churches that I have attended or speak in today have a mini-sermon (many aren’t too “mini”) before the offering is received to challenge the people’s faith to trust God in their giving. Here is a scripture verse often used during these mini/maxi-sermons:
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down,
and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:38
If not that verse, then it is:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Galatians 6:7
I might not be sitting beside you right now but I can sense that you are shaking your head in agreement. You’ve heard those verses quoted or read many, many times around the offering time. But have you considered this thought …
The promises found in these two verses have a humongous, gigantic, enormous (should I go on?) tie-in to those who minister to children. And, it’s a truth that I’ve never heard from the pulpit. Here it is … Each time that you step into your position of ministry to babies, children, or youth, you are reaching out to another family’s child by loving on them, sowing God’s Word into them, praying with them, and providing an opportunity for them to share needs that they possibly wouldn’t tell their parents or a peer. Here’s the part that I’ve never heard from the pulpit and am so, so excited about … If the “give and it shall be given” and the “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” are true (and they are), God is honor bound to send someone to reach out to your child to sow into their life.
Let me carry this one step further. One of the greatest benefits of faithfully ministering to other people’s children is for those who have a child/grandchild that is running from God. Let’s face reality. The child/grandchild running from God doesn’t want another sermon from you. They’ve heard you and heard you and heard you. They’ve turned you off. Here is the shouting reality. Because you are faithfully and consistently sowing into the lives of other people’s children, you can remind God of His promise and challenge Him to send someone to your child/grandchild that will love on, caringly and faithfully share the Word, pray for, provide an opportunity to share needs that they wouldn’t share with you, and whatever other type of ministry that is needed.
It’s true, it’s true, it’s true. Each and every time as you walk into the classroom, I challenge you to remind God of His promises given in Luke 6:38 and Galatians 6:7. Tell God that you are ministering in faith (sowing) and that you expect Him to send someone to minister to ****** (call out the name of your child/grandchild) and by faith you declare that ****** (call out the name of your child/grandchild) can’t run from so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3) (reaping). They will return to the God of their parent/grandparent.
NOTE: Church leader, share this from the pulpit and have your volunteer sign-up sheet ready. You should have an onslaught of people ready to sow because they so desperately need to reap.
THANK YOU! I needed this today! Standing on the character and promise of God for my children.
Thank you I needed this for my older son who is running from God but will also use it for my younger one too. Even though he is in church with us because we (my husband and I) are teaching children and he is out of that group we still need that for him.
This is so true! Thank you for sharing what so many of us overlook.