Month: June 2016

Recently we have seen three precious children and one teenager, of their own volition, come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Having trusted Christ as my Savior and Lord at the age of five, I get especially excited when I see children choose to follow Christ.  Praise the Lord!

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Now, my question is, why do born again adults get more excited over a teen or another adult coming to Christ for salvation than a child?  What would it say to a young child if adults were excited, rejoicing, clapping, encouraging, and caring when a child is saved? I remember my Dad’s response to me when I rose from my knees at the living room couch, walked into his study and told him, “Dad, I just got saved!”  He hugged me, rejoiced and said, “That’s great, Son! Tell me about it!”  My Dad did what every believer should do!  Why?  Just read Luke 15.

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (15:7)

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents (15:10).

How marvelous to think that a child has all their life to live for Christ, lay up treasures in Heaven, and make a difference for Christ in preparation for the Bema!  Their minds are like a sponge when it comes to Scripture memory.  Their hearts are tender toward the knowledge and ways of God.  They don’t have all the clutter and baggage of an adult.  They just have simple faith to believe in God’s Word!  May their tribe increase!!

One final thought, being very transparent with you.  When a crowd of believers are silent and seemingly uncaring when a child turns to Christ, I must say, “I’m glad you were not around when I got saved.”  I love, to this day, being around believers who love the Lord, are connected with Him through the Word, prayer, witnessing, and serving, and are joyful in the Lord!!

My wife came to Christ for salvation at the age of seven, thanks to her born again parents as well as her devoted, soul-winning Sunday School teacher.  I love to watch Denise respond to a child’s salvation as well as watch her lead a child to Christ!  She has not lost the wonder of it all!!  As a matter of fact, she celebrates her 50^th spiritual birthday in September and is planning a backyard party for all our neighbors!

So, how will you respond when a child in your church or your own child or grandchild, or a child in your neighborhood is born again?  If you need a hint just look toward heaven!

As I said in yesterday’s blog post, In the School of Running, my wife power walks in the mornings, and I run.  We have a basic route that we follow so that I’m not too far away from her, and that keeps it a “let’s do this together fun event.”

Another spiritual analogy came to me from her trek yesterday. For each mile that she walked, her times got faster.  Each mile, she gained strength to push on ahead.  Each mile, become better than the previous one.  Folks, that should be us in our Christian walk with Christ.  Now, I realize as we creep into the older ages of life, we don’t get faster, but we should . . .

Gain strength to push forward because of our daily intake of the Word of God, learning to live each day in the presence of God, and living with the end in mind.

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:9-16)

For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. (Psalm 21:6)

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” (Psalm 70:4)

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:12-14)

 

See each mile of our life getting better because the power of God’s Word has changed our thinking and therefore our actions.  So much so, we grow old a joy-filled, full of faith believer who knows that indeed each day is getting better because we are one day closer to seeing Jesus, to being Home!

The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. So teach us to number our days,that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil. Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.  (Psalm 90:10, 12-17)

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.  (Hebrews 11:13-16)

So, as we grow older and richer in our relationship with Christ, “let’s do this together fun event!”

Running is a good teacher.  As you journey down a country road, through a park, down a trail, or on the streets of town, you see many things that call out a spiritual application for daily life.  Tuesday morning was no different.

Normally I run alone because my wife power walks.  The motivation to keep up a good pace can go lagging at times because my body is begging me to go home while my mind tells me to keep going.  I log my mileage and times via MapMyRun.  For the past few weeks, my split pace times have been 11:20 to 12:23 min/mi.  Now let me say that I run for distance not for time.  But nevertheless, Tuesday morning my son-in-law ran with me.  What was my split-time?  10:38!  Are you kidding me?  Why?  Because I had someone running with me to keep me motivated and encouraged.  As a matter of fact, I did the same for him.

Life is like running a race.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it (1 Corinthians 9:24).

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).

In running this race, there is great counsel found in Ecclesiastes 4:9, Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.  Think of all the “one another’s” found in Scripture. God did not intend for us go at it alone.  As believers, we need one another.

• Greet one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet. 5:14)
• Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18)
• Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)
• Build one another up (Rom. 15:2; 1 Thess. 5:11)
• Serve one another (Gal. 5:13)
• Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
• Encourage one another (Heb. 10:25)
• Meet with one another (Heb. 10:25)
• Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another (Eph. 4:32, Rom. 12:10)
• Receive (welcome) one another as Christ received us (Rom. 15:7)
• Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)
• Minister one to another (1 Pet. 4:10)
• Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)
• Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Revive Our Hearts One Anothers In Scripture

As both of us ran Tuesday morning, we talked a bit, laughed some, panted together, kept up the pace, and did not criticize each other.  We are even signed up to run together in a 5K this Friday evening.  In this race, we will need each other just you need others in your race of life. Indeed, two are better than one . . . God said so, and you’ll appreciate the encouragement!