My desire on this blog is to be able to encourage
Kids Ministry volunteers and parents as
they walk through and "do" life with their children.
One of the greatest moments in a parent's life or in a volunteer's life of ministry, is being able to lead a child to accepting Jesus. It's exhilarating! It's life changing for both the child and you! After all...THIS is our goal, leading kids to Jesus!
So, we teach God's forgiveness, we teach God's love, we teach the only way to Heaven is through Jesus. And then, we ask who would like to accept Jesus. As we are looking out over the group of kids, praying for a child to make a decision, those little hands raise as the
Holy Spirit is working.
And I'm chuckling as I write this because, there's always those few kids that raise their hand or come and talk/pray EVERY time we ask, right!!?? Be honest...isn't there just a little bit of an unseen eye roll and sighing under your breath? Mmmmhmmm....sigh.
So, are they saved? They come every time...they say every time that they want this and believe. They are genuine.
They pray earnestly each time.
Have you ever noticed how nothing lasts today? Marriages don't last, friendships don't last, families don't last....everything around kids seem to come to an end. It's hard for a child to understand in today's world that Jesus love lasts forever. That Jesus doesn't just forget us, that He holds us so tenderly in His hand, forever. Forever is hard to fathom!
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. " John 10:27-30
Isn't that beautifully said?! No one can "snatch" us away! So many things are taken/snatched away or just don't last today.
Jesus' love is forever.
Acts 16:31 says "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved". Believe and be saved. You and I cannot see a child's heart, but the Bible is very clear, believe and be saved. If a child has prayed and accepted and believes, who are we to question how many times they come to us? In a world that FOREVER is non-existent, it's hard for kids to understand once and done, forever is forever.
So, that same child comes again and again...to me, that's precious...their heart is so tender, they want to please God. Usually a child that comes to us multiple times is learning something new each time. Maybe they were completely sincere the very first time they came to us, but maybe they didn't completely understand. Now is the time for discipleship! This child is ready to learn how to be a follower of Jesus, how to live like Jesus wants,
how to have a full relationship with Jesus.
So, the next time that same child raises their hand for the 4th time....take time with them, show them how to begin growing, don't make light of the fact that they came to you again. Remember, we are all growing and learning.
...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17b-19
Want to know more about discipleship? Comment below and I would be happy to help!
