Children’s Sermon

Mark 1:40-45

I Do Choose

You might remember that last week Jesus helped to heal Simon’s mother-in-law, who was sick in bed.

He probably hadn’t visited Simon’s house for that reason, but when he found out that someone needed his help he jumped right in and made her well. It might not have been something he went there to do – or had to do – but he made the choice to help anyway.

In this week’s Gospel story Jesus meets a man who is very sick. The man had leprosy – which is a terrible skin disease – and came to Jesus begging for his help. He tells Jesus that if he chose to help him, he could make him clean.

And then Jesus says one of the best things in the whole Bible – one of it’s most important lessons. He says, “I do choose” and heals the man.

Those three words: I do choose, are so important. They help to remind us that being a Christian is not just something we are, it’s something we do. We choose to be Jesus’ followers – and because we do, it means that we have to be ready to make choices that match this decision.

Think of all of the chances we have each day – times when we could choose to be helpful instead of selfish, times when we have to choose to do the right thing instead of the wrong thing, to follow rules instead of break them. All of those are chances to be like Christ – and to live like Christians.

Sometimes those choices aren’t convenient. We might, selfishly, want to do otherwise – but this week I want to challenge you to live just like Jesus. When you have a choice to make – between right and wrong, between helpful and selfish – remember what Jesus says today: I do choose. Then do the right thing. Will you do it?

Let’s pray.

Dear God,
Thank you for the examples set by Jesus.
Help us to make Christ-like choices during the week ahead.
Amen