15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15

Today is the first day of VBS and this is the verse we are learning. The children are learning a shortened version “Now you are my friends.”

This is totally amazing, Jesus Christ, king of the universe has called us friends! Not servants, but friends!

We choose to be His servant but He chooses to treat us as friends! This is totally amazing!

The Bible story we are learning about today is when men bring their friend to Jesus for Healing in Luke 5:17-25.

I love this part:

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

They brought Him to Jesus for healing and the first thing Jesus did was forgive his sins! You see healing is temporary because we all must “go the way of the earth.” Forgiveness is permanent because that is what truly changes our lives and releases us from the caustic poison of sin and shame on our eternal souls.

My son is bemoaning the fact that he has to go today because “none of the other boys are going.” I am praying for a blessing for him anyway as he learns that very often the road to follow Christ, particularly for men, is a lonely one.

Lord, please bless Bible School today and all of the workers. Reach out to these children and see our faith in you and forgive those we bring to you today. Bless us and keep us. We love you and give you all we are and all we have. In Jesus name. Amen.