Last week I talked with a friend who’s had a powerful conversion.
He says: “I am a changed person. I am not the man I used to be. I have truly changed and I never want to go back.”
All his friends agree with him. God has brought amazing change to his life.
He has one regret. His children. His salvation came too late to influence his children.
I’ve seen this story played out again and again. Heartbroken parents who have experienced the power of God’s love. They have experienced what Paul described: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to his purpose which he lavished upon us” (Ephesians 1:7-8).
Now they so wish their children could experience it as well.
You can’t turn back the clock. You can’t go back and re-raise your children.
But here is what you can do.
You can begin today to pray daily for the salvation of your children. Whether your children are young or old, you should be praying for the salvation of your children and grandchildren. Pray that God would put credible Christians in their path. Pray for the outpouring of God’s Spirit upon them.
You can seek to live a life that expresses who Christ is. There is nothing as powerful as a changed life. I told my friend to be faithful to God and learn of Him. The day may come when they will recognize that what happened to you can happen to them.
You can help someone else’s children go to heaven. Your church will have plenty of opportunities to influence children. Maybe it’s in a recreation ministry, after school tutoring, playing at a playground, or teaching in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School. There are literally millions of children who do not know Christ.
If your children are young and still at home, renounce the past and turn to God. Start meaningful meetings at your church. Get involved. Practice a living faith.
Here’s what we know: children and young people who live with parents who practice a vibrant faith–even lived imperfectly–are very likely to live that faith through life. That is a wonderful hope.
Give your best and you give your children the best chance to get to heaven.
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7 Responses
tes·ta·ment (t s t -m nt). n. 1. Something that serves as tangible proof or evidence.
This is true for boundary markers in surveying. It has been a command of the “Lord Thy God” throughout Holy Scripture to His People “Remembrance.”
Martha’s Blog was interesting. Sometimes I seek to count the ways something might be viewed. There are many testaments in our lives that become stuff. There are marriage, service and other certificates or commendations on display in the Jefferson Parish Museum that mark the passage of His that became, just stuff. It is an attitude/charge/command that we stand together, as my comment and your agreement as One in Him, by Him, through Him yesterday. It is the direction that Romans 12:1 and 2 takes us, enables us to discover. It is the reality of Christ, marriage, the sanity of Life, the very “Truths” the founders of this Country based their Declaration from which we have received Blessings that the enemy of God seeks to make, just stuff.
Thank you for helping us discern in Him Kingdom Testaments, that we might be found faithful, as we are called to do. Not to change the Law but to fulfill it: Deuteronomy 6. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” This is KJV, but read it for yourself in your favorite translation. The Spirit of the Word is One.
A Leader in the Word is a Testament. The flesh fades, stuff fades, the Word Stands.
Blessings
Thank you Pastor. I understand fully where your friend is coming from.
He is not alone. And with God, we are not alone no matter what our situation is.
I prase God, for the opportunites to work with little ones. For the past 8-10 years, I have been a paid baby sitter at Lakeside and love it. Its a great time to get to know the children and see the miracles of God. Also, pray daily for all my children, grands and great grans, to submit and follow God. Thank you for your daily teachings.
Thanks Celia for what you do and what you have done. We all need to pray for our children to know God.
Word Press is a great program. I fixed it for you!
will I spelled O. wrong, but you will understand. Thanks,