GLOW
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
Today is Palm Sunday. One of our annual church traditions allows our children's ministry to open our Palm Sunday worship service with a children's processional. Children of various ages enter the sanctuary waving palm branches and singing "Hosanna!" while our congregation stands and sings our call to worship. The scene reminds us of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion. Many Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Matthew 21 as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) to the sounds of "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." (Psalm 118:26) The scene is always special to me, not only because it signifies the arrival of Holy Week, but also because the children are always so cute and enthusiastic.
This year our Children's Ministry held a children's mission conference during our February Global ministry conference. The Children's Conference theme was GLOW. The GLOW acronym stands for Go Light Our World. The children memorized our Missions theme verse Malachi 1:11: "My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun....My name will be great among the nations," says the Lord Almighty." Each Wednesday night for the last 6 weeks during the Children's Connect time, the kids practiced their memory verse, song, and the action motions that accompanied the song's music. Today they got to share the fruit of their hard work with our congregation.
The service was especially poignant for me. It was five-year old Julia's first time to get to sing with the older children. Julia has been dutifully practicing her Malachi words and motions. Every Wednesday night after Kid's Connect, Julia's Mama would bring her to my Bible study classroom so that I could see and hear what she is learning. Listening to Julia recite Malachi 1:11 reminded me of Charles Spurgeon's words on today's verse:
"God's Word- the very best thing,
hidden in the very best place- my heart;
for the very best reason- that I might not sin against God."
Throughout the day I've reflected on the sweet sounds of the children's Scripture memory. I've also reflected on GLOW- go light our world. Memorizing and sharing God's Word is one way that we can do just that, light our world. As our culture becomes increasingly darker and darker with secular humanism, the urgency of letting our light shine becomes more important. Even a little bit of light helps dispel the darkness. Throughout Scripture, light is associated with God and the life that is found in Him. Here are a few verses that remind us of the importance of light in God's kingdom:
"And God said, "Let there be light, and there was light." Genesis 1:3
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens." Daniel 12:3
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:17
"For God, who said 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6
This week as we consider the passion and death of Christ, a lot of our focus will be on the darkness of sin and death. But God's Word is still a lamp and light to those who hear and heed it. What are you doing to hide God's Word in your heart? What are you doing to GLOW? A dark and dying world desperately needs the light of the Gospel of Jesus. May each of us go light our world with the light of His Word.
GLOW- for God's glory!
Amen and Amen,
Donna