Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Have you ever been part of a team that was only as effective as it was due to the diversity among you? Maybe it’s in your everyday job or maybe it is in the area where you serve at church. I think about teams that go out to do mission work and each member has something different to offer. A person with a medical background can nurture medical needs while the teacher might read with the little children. And even little children can engage new friends in different ways to learn through play. God was deliberate in the way he chose the Twelve Apostles and He is deliberate in the way that He chooses you and me.

For the past 23 years, I have received the blessing of being able to support people with disabilities (and their families) as part of my everyday career. This is a particular skill set that God gave me to help others. As I reflect on the conversation between the disciples and God found in John 9:1-3, I am reminded that some of my most precious blessings have come in the form of interactions with those individuals with abilities different from my own.

I think of a young man in my adult Sunday School class who was Autistic and essentially non-verbal. Each Sunday as we shared a Bible lesson and had an intimate discussion about the topic at hand, this young man always at the most appropriate and profound of times would faithfully interject a single word, “God!” We would all smile with adoration that although he could not speak, our lessons were made whole by his strong profession of faith uniquely encapsulated in that one single witness and one single word… “God.”

Although I could share many more stories, they all would demonstrate the following lessons learned:

1. God uses all of His children to bear witness.
2. God uses people with disabilities and their families to allow others to learn true empathy.
3. When we walk alongside families that need extra support and guidance, we are the ones who truly receive the blessing.
4. There is no disability for those who walk in their true ability by God’s grace.

Reflection:

• What specific traits have you witnessed from individuals who might have abilities different from your own? What traits did God give you specifically to make you a unique addition to bring His Kingdom work to life for others?
• Prayer: Dear God, we are in awe of the way that You make each of us different. Lord, it is amazing to see how our traits work together to allow us to do Kingdom work for Your glory. Let us see our differences as special traits to serve You. Amen.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Family Application: Matthew 10

Author: Anna Overstreet

Have you ever heard the phrase “red letter words” before? In 1899, a man by the name of Louis Klopsch printed every word that Jesus spoke in red letters, hence the phrase, “Red Letter Words” was born.

As believers, we want to study the Bible because the bible was important to Jesus. Once you are saved, it’s the one way to fully grow in Christ. While every story, person, and word of the Bible is important to study, anything that Jesus said and did is especially worth noting. Seeing all His words printed in red is a super cool aspect of Matthew 10. Jesus gives specific instructions to His disciples on how to handle opposition to His ministry, which was quickly becoming their ministry too. They had a mission to spread the Good News, and we do too once we are saved and have a relationship with Jesus. See how many “Red Letter Words” you can find in Matthew 10.

• Talk with your family about why you think it’s important to recognize the words Jesus spoke while He was on earth.
• What words from Jesus stood out to you the most from Matthew 10?
• Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for giving us so many words to study and read. Thank You also for giving us the recorded words that came directly from the mouth of Jesus. He was sinless and perfect in every way. All He spoke back then was and is so important for my walk today. Help me to recognize His words in the Bible and in my daily life. Amen.