Three Out Of Four!

My little Soren got saved just the other day...

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth."

~ 3 John 1:4

He is now the third child, out of my four, who has come to me wanting to accept Christ.

(My Roman accepted Christ at age five, same as Soren; and Nola this past summer at age six.)

I have diligently been teaching them about the Lord their entire little lives, but in all three salvation moments, it has been the child who has come to me with questions and tender hearts. 

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." 

~ Deuteronomy 6:5-7

When I was in my pregnant and child-bearing years, I used to plead with the Lord not to give me any children that wouldn't grow up to love and serve Him.

Then when my children were babies, I would pray over their heads when they'd sleep that the Lord would grant them repentance at an early age.

Well, now it is happening!

I have led all three older ones to the Lord and have witnessed their salvation.

In all three cases my children have come to me alone asking for help with how to get saved. I would explain that I could help them, but I couldn't do it for them. This was between them and the Lord. I would then make sure that they understood what Jesus did for them on the cross (Philippians 2:8), and that He is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6), but after that the very next thing I would do is ask them about their sin. A child who is being raised in Sunday School will most likely know about sin and know that they have it, but it's crucial they know that they must repent of their sins! It's not enough to just believe in God.

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!'"

~ Matthew 4:17

"Unless you repent, you too will all perish."

~ Luke 13:3

"If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me."

~ Jeremiah 15:19a

There's a reason why this is so near and dear to my heart. I may even go a tad overboard in driving this point home, and it's because of my own personal testimony...

I got "saved" as a small child, too. I was raised in church and grew up around Christians. But for some reason I never repented.

I knew all the right things, did all the right things, and could answer all the questions correctly. I was a good person and believed in Jesus. I thought I was a Christian, but I really wasn't.

It wasn't until I became an adult that the Lord tracked me down, broke my heart, and I finally repented. It was then that I was truly saved.

My husband, Micah, has a similar testimony. So, you can understand then, that when my children come to me asking how they can get saved, I am hesitant.

Every time my initial reaction has been to say to them, "No, you are too young." Because I fear they don't really get it... I fear they'll be a false convert... I fear if I lead them in the sinner's prayer, they'll grow up believing they're saved when they're really not. But I have caught myself all three times. I realize that just because that was MY story, doesn't mean it has to be theirs!

All three times I've heard the Lord whisper to my heart, "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

So, all three times I have stopped what I was doing, and led them to the Lord... Praying the whole time that God would come into the moment, fill us with His presence, give me wisdom, move and work in my child, and grant them true repentance! 

"... In the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth."

~ 2 Timothy 2:25b

Once the moment ended I would wonder if it was really legit. I'd move on with my day knowing I really couldn't do anything about it except to pray for them and remind myself that God wants my children to come to know Him far more than I do!

"That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth."

~ 1 Timothy 2:2-4

I also find great comfort in reminding myself that even if they grow up with a false assurance of salvation, as I did, that I can trust God to pursue them when they're older, as He did for me and Micah. 

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

~ Philippians 1:6

Really, all I care about in this world is that I can spend eternity with all four of my children in Heaven.

I have told them before that I expect to see all of them there! Haha...

I've said, "I know I'm going to be there! Make sure you'll be, too! I want us to all be together!"

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

~ 1 John 5:12-13 

So, for now while they're young and at home with me, I consider this my job. My calling. I didn't choose it. God gave it to me.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go bear fruit- fruit that will last."

~ John 15:16

My children are my fruit, and so far God has yielded from me

 three out of four.

:)

xo,

~ Courtney ~