Welcome to Lectio For Families. Today is a Hero Day, and so we’re taking a break from our usual pattern to pray a little differently. On Hero Days we pause to celebrate and learn from the life of someone who followed Jesus in a really inspiring way. Today we are thanking God for the extraordinary example of Toyohiko Kagawa, a hero of justice.

Pause

We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:

In and out.

In and out.

We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.

Pause

Prayer of Welcome

Mighty God, open our eyes, stir our hearts and teach us how, ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly’ with You today. (Micah 6:8)

Reflect

Bible Reading

Toyohiko was inspired by Jesus’ command to serve other people. Let’s REFLECT on a passage from Luke’s Gospel about this.

Read by Bella
Luke 22:24-27
Then [the disciples] began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, ‘In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called “friends of the people.” But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.’
Luke 22:24-27 (NLT)

Toyohiko Kagawa was born in Japan in 1888. Sadly, both of his parents died while he was still young, so he was sent to a Christian boarding school, which is where he became a follower of Jesus. After school, he went to a Bible College, hoping to learn with other Christians. However, they seemed to spend all their time arguing about Christian beliefs instead of following Jesus’ example by loving and serving those in need.

Toyohiko decided to move into a very poor part of his city and start preaching about Jesus and reaching out to those in need. He started a group called ‘The Friends of Jesus’, and together they cared for about 7500 people. He was also really brave – when the Japanese government led his nation into World War II, Toyohiko spoke out about choosing the way of peace instead. He wanted the war to end.

Amazingly, when World War II did end, Toyohiko was invited to help rebuild Japan as a peaceful nation. When advising the Japanese Emperor on how he should now rule, Toyohiko pointed him to Jesus’ words, saying: ‘Whosoever will be great among you… shall be the servant of all… Only by service to others can a man, or nation, be godlike.’*

Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is: If we met the leader of our nation, what would we like to say to them? What would we ask them to do differently?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Toyohiko was a peacemaker. Let’s ASK God to help us be peacemakers where we are too.

Loving God, we ASK You to help us be peacemakers. Show us how we can help people to stop arguing and learn to love You and love one another… and even love their enemies.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Toyohiko spoke out about choosing the way of peace instead of war. Let’s think of a war or a place of conflict somewhere in the world and pray for peace to come instead.

Lord Jesus – Prince of Peace – we ASK You to change the hearts and minds of those who are leading governments and armies. We know that You want peace, not war, and we want peace too.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Toyohiko believed that Christians shouldn’t just talk about making the world a better place – we should do it! ‘We must clear our own little corner of creation.’* he said.

Let’s pause and think for a moment. What ‘little corners of creation’ has God put us in? Maybe it’s our school, or our neighbourhood, or our town? What could we do to make this a better place? It might be something really small to start with.

Pause

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Lord God, we say YES to taking action, like Toyohiko Kagawa! We want to walk with You and work with You to make Your world a better place.

Pause

Closing Prayer

Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.

Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.

Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.