Children’s Sermon

Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

Justice for All

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Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

Justice for All

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Expectations are things we expect to happen. Let’s talk about that. We expect that when we wake in the morning we will see daylight. We expect that, in the evening, darkness will fall.

We expect that during the summer months there will be days that are sunny and warm and in the winter we may see rain or snow.

We expect that we will have enough to eat and a warm, safe place to live. We expect that we will be treated fairly – with respect and kindness.

Our parents expect that we will behave well and do our best to learn and grow. When we read the Bible we find that God also has expectations of us. God says, “…love your neighbor as yourself” (19:18).

That seems like a big expectation doesn’t it? This doesn’t mean to love only the people who live next door, but all those we meet. It seems only fair that if we want to be treated with kindness and respect, that we show kindness and respect to others.

What would your life be like if you were never forgiven? Imagine that you made a terrible mistake and had no way to fix it. Wouldn’t that feel awful? That’s another expectation we have – that we can ask for and receive forgiveness from God and from the people we hurt.

So when God tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself” we must remember what we need for ourselves and try to give that to others. Respect, kindness, and forgiveness.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2014, Richard Niell Donovan