Be the Friend Someone Needs

Hey, Carpool Crew! I'm Pastor Justin, and whether you're in the car on the way to school, sitting at the breakfast table, or getting ready for homeschool, I'm really glad you're here today. Our verse today comes from Matthew 25:40. It says: 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' That's a big statement. Jesus is saying that when you help someone who feels left out, when you include someone who's alone, when you care about someone who's hurting, it's like you're doing that for him. If Jesus were sitting next to you right now, I think he'd say something like this: 'My friend, I see the people around you who feel left out. When you choose to love them, you're showing my love in a real way. You're being the kind of friend I would be.' That's the goal. Not just being nice, but loving people the way Jesus does. Now imagine this. You walk into school. You look around the lunchroom. Everyone's sitting with their friends. Except one person. They're sitting alone. Looking down. In that moment, you have a choice. Do you walk past? Or do you stop? Let me tell you something that happened to me. One day, I saw a new student sitting alone at lunch. She looked nervous. Quiet. Not sure where she fit in. And I remember thinking, 'I think Jesus would sit with her.' So I did. I sat down, started talking, asked a few simple questions. And before long, we were laughing. That one moment turned into a friendship. But more than that, she felt seen. So here's how this plays out for you today: first, notice who feels left out. Look for the one person others might miss. Second, take the first step. You don't have to wait. You can go first. Third, remember who you're really loving. When you care for others, you're showing love to Jesus. Our One Thing: when you love someone who feels left out, you're loving Jesus too. No matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And hey parents, if this episode encourages your family, share it with another parent who wants to raise kids who notice and care for others. Before you go, talk about this together: who's someone you can be a friend to today? Alright Carpool Crew, thanks for riding with me today. I'll see you next time.