3 Day Devotional: What God Can Do Through A Child: - Day 1

Scripture
"2A large crowd kept following him because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” — John 6:2-9

Reflection
Children know that showing up matters. You cannot play in the game if you never come to practice. You cannot learn in school if you never show up to class. In many ways, showing up is half the battle.

The same is true in our walk with Jesus.

When thousands gathered around Jesus in John 6, there was one child in the crowd whom Andrew noticed: "There is a boy here." Before the boy ever shared his lunch, he shared his presence. His greatest qualification was not his age, his abilities, or his resources. His greatest qualification was that he was near Jesus.

Out of thousands in the crowd, he was positioned to become part of what Jesus was doing because he was there.

Children, stay close to Jesus. Be where Jesus is at work. Adults, bring children near Jesus. Create opportunities for them to worship, learn, serve, and grow. Children are not only the church of tomorrow—they are part of the church today.

You cannot participate in what Jesus is doing if you are far away from Him.

The good news is that Jesus welcomes us near. Through His death and resurrection, He has opened the way for us to draw close to God. We do not earn His presence; we receive it by grace. Stay close to Jesus and watch what God can do through a child—and through all who belong to Him.

Reflection Questions
1. What helps me stay close to Jesus, and what pulls me away from Him?
2. Where is Jesus at work around me, and how can I be present there?
3. How can I help a child grow closer to Jesus this week?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us into Your presence. Help us stay close to You and be where You are at work. Teach us that faithfulness often begins with simply showing up. Use our lives to point others to You. Amen.