Slideshow image

By the time this devotion is published, we will be over half-way through our annual Kids’ Bible Adventure Week. This year the title for the Bible Adventure Week is “Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power”. Over 100 children have signed up and over 40 helpers have volunteered.

What was amazing was the preparation for the camp. Ideas were thought up, banners were painted, walls were decorated, crafts were created, teaching illustrations were developed, visuals were drawn, digital media were downloaded, songs were rehearsed, snacks were prepared, volunteers were equipped, leaders were appointed, registrations were received, and children were prayed for. If preparation for our Kids Bible Adventure Week is a challenge, then, to use the title of the Week, we conquered this challenge with God’s mighty power working through the dedication and devotion of so many. A big thank you to everyone.

Preparation is key. Remember when James and John came to Jesus and asked to sit at his left and right in his glory. In Mark 10:40, Jesus replies, “…but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” God the Father tracks and plans our lives – he has prepared his purposes for us. Early on the first Easter morning, we read in Luke 24:1, “the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.” They were in for the biggest surprise in history! Being prepared is good, but God will always amaze us even when we are prepared.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Being a Christian means enjoying the great privilege of following what God has planned for us. 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to be faithful witnesses: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

One of my favourite verses about preparation is 1 Corinthians 2:9. Paul writes: “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ — the things God has prepared for those who love him…” This verse, quoting Isaiah 64:4, is sometimes used to refer to our future glory. Jesus said in John 14:2-3, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” God has prepared our eternal home, it’s beyond our imagination, more glorious and spectacular than we can ever conceived – and at the centre is the joy we have of knowing Jesus – and he will come for us.

Our Kids’ Bible Adventure Week was wonderfully, thoughtfully, and carefully prepared. The details and touches show how much the kids matter and how much the Gospel of our Lord Jesus matters.

And God has prepared a place for you. Though we can’t know what it’s like in all its majesty and glory, the details and touches will show how much Jesus loves you and me. Isn’t that amazing?!

你好。願你知道上帝、聖父、聖子和聖靈的祝福今天與你同在。

當這個靈修發出時，我們年度的兒童聖經夏令營已過了超過一半。今年的主題是「聖母峰：用上帝的大能征服挑戰」。99名兒童報名參加，40多名義工來幫忙。下個主日我們將發現更多營會中發生的事情。

令人驚訝的是營會的準備工作。構思了點子，繪製了廣告橫幅，裝飾了牆壁，製作了手工，教學插圖編寫好了，繪製了視覺圖畫，下載了電子媒體，排練了歌曲，準備了點心，裝備了義工，任命了領袖，收到了註冊，也為孩童禱告了。如果為我們的兒童聖經夏令營做準備是一個挑戰，那麼我們已經透過上帝的大能克服了這個挑戰，透過這麼多人的奉獻和付出。非常感謝大家。

準備是關鍵。記得雅各和約翰來到耶穌面前，要求坐在他的左右兩側，享受在他的榮耀裡。在馬可福音10：40，耶穌回答說“...只是坐在我的左右、不是我可以賜的．乃是為誰預備的、就賜給誰。”父神追蹤並計劃我們的生命—他已經為我們預備了他的目的。復活節的第一個清晨，我們在路加福音24：1中讀到，“七日的頭一日、黎明的時候、那些婦女帶着所預備的香料、來到墳墓前。”他們迎來了史上最大的驚喜！做好準備是好的，但即使我們準備好了，上帝也總是會讓我們驚奇。

以弗所書2：10說：“我們原是他的工作、在基督耶穌裏造成的、為要叫我們行善、就是　神所預備叫我們行的。”成為基督徒意味著享受遵循神為我們計劃的這特權。彼得前書3：15提醒我們要做忠心的見證人： “有人問你們心中盼望的緣由、就要常作準備、以溫柔敬畏的心回答各人。”

 我最喜歡關於準備的經文之一是哥林多前書2：9。保羅寫道：“然而，正如經上所記的：神為愛他的人所預備的、是眼睛未曾看見、耳朵未曾聽見、人心也未曾想到的。”—神為愛他的人所預備的事......”這節經文引用以賽亞書64：4，有時被用來指等待未來的榮耀。正如耶穌自己在約翰福音14：2-3中所說，” 在我父的家裏、有許多住處．我若去為你們預備了地方、就必再來接你們到我那裏去．我在那裏、叫你們也在那裏。” 神已經預備了我們永恆的家，它遠超出了我們的想像，比我們想像的更榮耀和壯觀 - 中心就是我們認識耶穌的喜樂 - 他會為我們而來。

我們的兒童聖經夏令營非常出色，精心準備且周到。細節顯示了孩子們的重要性以及我們主耶穌的福音的重要性。神為你準備了一個地方。雖然我們無法知道它的威嚴和榮耀是什麼樣子，但細節將表明耶穌有多愛你和我。這，不是很神奇嗎？！

讓我們禱告

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum