A Way to Serve

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-19, 26; 3:1

Isabella lay across her bed as she read a letter from a missionary printed in her church bulletin. Wow! she thought. I wish I could help people too. She sighed. But there’s not much I can do. I’m just a kid. Maybe I’ll be a missionary and serve God when I’m older.

“Isabella! Come here, please,” Mom called. Isabella went to the kitchen, and Mom handed her a bowl. “Mrs. Nelson’s back is bothering her, so I made her some stew. Can you bring it over to her?”

“Okay,” said Isabella, taking the bowl.

When she got to their neighbor’s house, Isabella noticed that breakfast and lunch dishes were still on the table, so she loaded them into the dishwasher and set the table for dinner. Then she sat and kept Mrs. Nelson company while she ate her stew.

“Thank you for all your help—and for visiting with me,” said Mrs. Nelson when Isabella was leaving. “Most young people don’t seem to have time for us old folks.”

When Isabella got home, her baby brother was sitting on the floor of the kitchen, crying. “Isabella, would you please feed Jacob?” said Mom as she chopped vegetables.

“Sure,” said Isabella. “Come on, Jakey. It’s time to eat.”

After dinner, Isabella showed her mom the missionary letter. “Did you read this letter in the bulletin, Mom? It’s so cool to hear about all the ways these missionaries are helping people in their village and telling them about Jesus. I wish I could serve the Lord like that.”

Mom smiled. “You’ve been serving the Lord all afternoon, Izzy,” she said.

“Me? Serving the Lord?” asked Isabella.

“You helped Mrs. Nelson and spent time with her. And you helped me with Jacob.”

“But, Mom, that was just helping people,” said Isabella. “I want to do something for God, but I’m not big enough yet.”

“How do you think missionaries serve Him?” asked Mom. “They do it by doing things for people. We serve God by serving others, and that’s what you’ve been doing, just like the missionaries. Your helpful, caring actions point to Jesus, who loves us so much He came to earth to rescue us from sin. By helping others, you’re serving Him.”

A big smile slowly spread over Isabella’s face.

-Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Do you think you’re too young to serve God? You’re not. The Bible gives several examples of children who served Him. One of them is found in today’s Bible reading. You can serve God too. When you help and care for others, you’re showing them the love of Jesus, who served us by dying for our sins on the cross. You serve Him through every loving action, big or small. What can you do to serve today?

Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 25:40 (NIV) [Jesus said,] “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Today’s Key Thought:

You can serve God now