Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Today Is...
M's spiritual birthday. 3 years ago, when Chris was home on an unplanned sick day, he and M had a conversation (started by M) on sin and the penalty for sin. (Chris and I both firmly believe that the decision to ask Jesus into one's heart should be driven by the heart, not by parents or leaders putting words into children's mouths. We have seen this happen way too many times and believe that there is a distinct difference between children repeating lessons they have learned and truly grasping the undeniable truth that they need Jesus grace.) Even after M made his decision and prayed, Chris and I watched him wondering if a 5 year old could truly grasp such a big concept. So we prayed, we talked to M and answered his questions and today we celebrate 3 years of M being part of God's family. We have seen so much growth and have watched him mature in his faith in so many ways and we can hardly wait to see what God does with his life! Happy Birthday M!!!
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Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
We are the same way (about not trying to force salvation). Although, we do talk about sin every time we discipline them. And they know the penalties of sin. However, we won't ask them, "do you want to get saved?" or anything like that. We feel that God will lead them to ask that question "What must I do to get saved" when the time is right and as long as we are faithfully teaching them from the Bible, that eventually they will ask.
Paul got saved at the age of 5. His dad did not believe kids could get saved at that young of an age so when Paul first asked him about it, he kind of changed the subject (not wanting to have a false conversion).
Paul came home from preschool and said that his teacher had told the kids to "do your lessons as unto the Jesus" and Paul asked his dad what that meant. His dad told him that when you are saved and you know Jesus, you want to do everything to please Him. Paul said he wanted to get saved, and his dad changed the subject. An hour later, Paul asked him again...and he kept badgering him until his dad finally walked him through how to get saved. His dad jokes that he knew immediately that there was a change in his life because without being asked, Paul went right to his room and cleaned it--he'd never done that before :-D. The next day he was witnessing to all the little neighbors. His sister got saved when she was 4 (another VERY persistent little child!)
We have been praying since the day our kids came into our life that they would come to a saving knowledge of Christ at a very early age. So far no one has wanted to take that step. Both Honor and Connor know the "basics"--that they are sinners, that Christ died on the cross for their sins, that they need to ask God to forgive them and ask Him to come into their lives in order to be saved. They have the "head knowledge", but they have yet to try to apply it to their heart. So we keep praying.
There were a few times when I thought Connor might want to. In children's church they talk about being born with a black heart and how Jesus' blood can cover it and give you a red heart (obviously they talked more about it than that, but that is the visual aid--they started with Adam and Eve and how when they were created they had a mirror heart that reflected God's image, but then they sinned and it got colored black with sin and everyone that was born afterward had a black heart except Jesus because it was passed down from Adam and God is Jesus' father........MANY lessons)...
ANYWAY...
Connor knows that mommy and daddy have red hearts and that he has a black heart. "I have a black heart, but someday I will have a red heart like you," he announces randomly while I am tucking him in (we had been talking about his WALLE blanket).
"I truly hope so, Son. All you have to do is ask Jesus to forgive you and ask Him to come into your heart and it will be covered." My little heart starts beating fast...will this be the day???
"Oh," he says thoughtfully, then looks at the ceiling. "I LIKE batman."...
...sigh...Someday...
Happy spiritual birthday M! :-D
I know what you mean. We talk to our kids about sin. We talk about how we are sinners just like they are, but we want them to come to Christ with a sound understanding of the gospel. We pray for Z, but so far he hasn't shown much interest. He seems to focus a lot on the "obey your parents" thing:) M is just a different kid than Z and I want Z to make a heart decision not a head decision. We use every opportunity we can to talk about Jesus, His love and His plan. We have even used playdough to talk about sin and how God feels when we sin (I should post that one). I love talking about Jesus with my kids and that is the name I want then to hear most often in our home because it is the sweetest name there is!
That's so awesome!
Annalyn and I just had a TERRIBLE evening, and it's encouraging to think about her having a birthday like this someday. Right now she's enjoying being disobedient a little (LOT!!) too much for my taste.
yay! :D
Oh, M still has his moments of disobediance, but there is a difference I think. But that just may be because he is older:)
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