Daily Devotional for October 10, 2021
Mexico or South Street
“I wish I could go too,” Evie said as she watched her older sister walk up to the security line at the airport. Along with other young people from their church, Savannah was on her way to spend a week helping missionaries in Mexico with their children’s ministry. Her family had come to the airport to see her off.
As Evie and her parents headed back home, she was very quiet. “What’s wrong, honey?” Dad asked. “Do you miss Savannah already?”
“No, I just wish…I wish I could be a missionary,” said Evie. “I think maybe I will be one someday, but I wish I could be one now too. I wish I could have gone along to Mexico.”
“Well, Evie, when we think of missionaries, we generally mean people who take the gospel to other countries or cultures where there are lots of people who haven’t heard the good news of Jesus,” said Dad. “But in a broader sense of the word, a missionary is a person who is on a mission—a mission to help more people know Jesus as their Savior. In that sense, you’re a missionary already. You’ve been bringing your friend Dani to church. She’s even going to Bible camp with you next summer.”
“Well, yes, but…” Evie sounded uncertain.
“And how about the kids who just moved in next door?” added Mom. “You’ve been so kind and welcoming to them, and the other day I heard you talking to them about Jesus.”
Evie sighed. “I know, but I want to be a real missionary.”
“Evie,” Dad said gently, “if God wants you to go to another country someday, you’ll undoubtedly have the opportunity to do that. But all Christians have the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with those around them, no matter where they are. That’s the important thing—and in that sense, you’re a real missionary already.”
Evie smiled. “Really?”
Dad nodded. “Savannah is going to serve God in Mexico for a week, and you’re serving Him right at home on South Street!”
“Jesus wants the people in Mexico to know He loves them,” said Mom, “and He wants those on South Street to know He loves them too.”
“Okay,” Evie said. “I’ll tell them whenever I can.”
-Lenora McWhorten
How about you?
Do you ever wish you could go to another country and be a missionary? That’s a great thing to want to do, but you don’t have to travel far away to be a missionary—you can be one wherever you are right now. Don’t wait to share the good news of Jesus with others. People on your street and in your school need to know that Jesus loves them and died for them, and you can be the one to tell them.
Thank you for reading this Keys for Kids devotional! Did you enjoy the story? Has Keys for Kids been an encouragement to you and your family? If so, would you please consider supporting Keys For Kids Ministries in our effort to continue to provide these daily devotionals to children around the world?