I would like to start off this morning with a story. Within my role of Youth Mission Enabler for Peterborough Deanery I have the privilege of working with young people and interacting with a number of churches and schools. One thing I get to do is head into schools and do one to one mentoring. Many years ago a school referred a student to me. Now this student was someone who did everything and anything that you would not want them to do. They had been excluded a number of times and were on the brink of being kicked out for good.

Having this season of mentoring was the last resort.

Now for those of you who know me, you will know that I am not into football, cars nor am I that strong. So I was wondering how would I be able to connect with this young person.

However, to cut a long story short, over months of meeting every week I was able to chat and just listen to that young person and helped them explore their anger and the root cause to everything.

In the new testament reading, Paul shares straight away “Owe no one anything; except to love one another”

“Love your neighbour as yourself”.

We’re called to love one another, and at times it can be a huge challenge! There are some people we find it really easy to love and for others it can be so hard to love them.

Another story which I wasn’t planning on sharing but feel I should is this;

Over 10 years ago when I was in sixth form I remember having a day where I had one lesson in the morning and free periods for the rest of the day, so I was able to head home. I used to walk the 4 miles home. But some days I’d catch the one and only bus that took me halfway and walk the rest.

On this day when I got to the bus stop I put my hand in my school bag to pull out my ipod and instead my hand grabbed hold of something else. I pulled it out and there in my hand was a Queens Jubilee Bible that I had been given about 6 months earlier at the school Christian Union.

I thought nothing of it and put it back in my bag, plugged my earphones in and got onto the bus. But as I sat down the thought of the Bible kept going around in my head. It got to the point where I thought, “Oh no… God are you wanting me to do something?”

To which I felt Him say that someone on this bus needed that Bible.

I wrestled with God and said I wasn’t going to do anything.

After a few minutes I caved and said fine, I’ll do it, but it depends on who i’ts for. Now there were only 4 other people on the bus including the driver. So I was like – “God, is it the elderly couple at front?” ….

No.

OK, well we’re not left with many people now…

“Is it the bus driver…?”

No.

Now the only other person left, was a lady who seemed to have had too much to drink.

I argued with God in my head saying I wouldn’t do it.

I got up for my stop and as I got to the front I spun round and said this is for you. And pushed the Bible into her hands.

She then replied with… “Oh I’m a Christian.”

I replied, “Well I’d like you to have it, I feel God wants you to know He loves you.”

She burst out in tears saying she was struggling and really needed to hear that that day.

There are certain people in our lives that we find really easy to love, but there may be others who we struggle to love – maybe its someone in our workplaces, our schools, or even our families.

But we’re called to love them.

My favourite Bible verse of all time is 1 Peter 2:9

‘For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.’

We are chosen by God and called to head out into this world and share the Good News. We’re called to share the love of God to others – young or old. Sometimes we find it hard to love the younger generation because they seem so different to us.

But my challenge for us all, including myself is to think about someone in our own lives who we struggle to love and to reach out to them and show them the love of God.

We’re called to love one another and to share the Good News to the lost and broken.

Amen.

Service: Sam Higgins – Youth Mission Enabler Peterborough Diocese – 10th September 2023

Referenced Scripture: Romans 13:8-end