Drawing Closer

I have to admit, the last thing I wanted to do was teach Bible camp. Give up a week of my summer? For a bunch of little kids I didn’t even know? I attended church, sure, but it’s not like I was a Bible expert. Couldn’t they find someone more qualified? But my friend encouraged me to try it, so I thought, “Fine. It’s only a week. I’ll help.”

When camp started, I was surprised. Some of these kids had never even heard of Jesus before! As one cute little face looked up at me and told me his family had never been to church, I thought, “I might be the only face of Jesus that these kids see today. Maybe that they have ever seen!” Suddenly my sense of purpose deepened. I wasn’t just a glorified babysitter. I was introducing these kids to Jesus.

I didn’t need to be a Bible expert for these kids. All I could do was let them see Jesus’s love shining through me. If I could offer a friendly face and a kind heart, maybe they would start to know that Jesus is kind and He cares about them. Something as simple as a positive interaction with me might be all it would take to spark their faith! I mean, if they went home saying they loved Bible camp, those happy memories would plant a seed. They might come back next year. And the year after that. Maybe they’d even start coming to church. Maybe they’d teach Bible camp someday…and lead a whole new group of kids to Jesus!

You never know where saying yes to God will lead. • Bitsy Kemper

• Have you experienced Jesus’s love through someone in your life? What did this person do that showed you what God is like?

• When we experience God’s love for us, sharing that love with others comes naturally. Can you think of a time when God revealed His love for you? If not, you can ask Him anytime.

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!†2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ps.139