06
Aug '24
FRUIT THAT WILL LAST- DEVOTIONAL TIME AT JUBILEE
06
Aug '24
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” – John 15:16 (NIV)
This verse deeply moves us, reminding us that it was not we who chose the Lord, but He who chose us. Our lives and our legacy are important to Him. During the devotionals at Jubilee, we have observed how the Lord chooses certain children and reveals His powerful presence to them.
When I read this verse, I thought a lot about that phrase. The Lord chose this community in Honduras; He chose each child in Jubilee to bless them with the opportunity to draw near to His presence. Since Jubilee began, devotionals have been part of our nature. Ms. Claudia Velázquez reminds us, “When we were just a small kindergarten, the Pastor would teach Bible class to the little ones.” It is very powerful to see how the Lord has moved in Jubilee from the beginning.
The Importance of Devotionals
Teaching the scriptures of Jehovah is not just a liturgical practice at Jubilee. During each devotional, we aim to lead the children and youth to a genuine encounter with the Lord, one that reaches deep into their hearts and becomes a fruit that remains in them. This helps them mature in their relationship with the Lord, impacting their families, neighbors, and all the members of their community.
“When I go to the devotional, I feel very happy and I feel a strong hug from the Lord. I can hear His voice, and can I tell you a secret? I have also had visions of Him! I love hearing stories like Sarah’s, who had no children and God gave her one when she was 90 years old. My grandma also prayed to God a lot, and when she was 40, she finally had my mom. That’s why I love that story.” – Emma, First Grade
“For me, worship is the best because He manifests in my heart and I feel that there is a great treasure, which is health, that allows us to get up and worship Him with more strength. I love hearing about when the Lord created everything; He made me to serve Him, and I love to sing and dance for Him.” – Hanny, Fifth Grade
“What I like the most is having communion with the Lord. I have realized that it is more than just clapping; it is about having a relationship with Him. During the devotional, I love to see how God’s people worship their King. I am very moved by Paul’s teachings, but I especially love hearing his testimony—how he was before and how he changed after getting to know the Lord deeply.” – Nazareth, Ninth Grade
“For me, worship is something very special. I have had so many occasions where the Lord has manifested, and I cannot deny that He is real! It makes me so happy to spend time with Him and fulfill His purposes in my life. I have had the opportunity to evangelize, and it is a great joy for me. That’s why the part where Jonah goes to Nineveh and speaks to them about Jehovah touches me a lot because even though he didn’t want to, that was his purpose.” – Luis, Tenth Grade
The devotional time not only fills the students with the word but also fills the teachers and staff. Every Wednesday, after the school day ends, the Jubilee team holds a devotional. This time is like a refreshing drink amidst the busyness of the workweek.
WE ARE ONE BODY
The Jubilee team, with the support of the pastor, brings the message that the Lord places in their hearts to each child, serving as a “read letter” for the younger ones in the faith. They are not just teachers but brothers and sisters whom the children can rely on in times of difficulty. As it says in Romans 12:4-5: “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Each one is a member of the body of Christ who desires to serve the Father and fulfill the purpose He has given us. Because we did not choose Him, He chose us. And we want to bear a Fruit that Will last.
