I had a wonderful conversation with a Kindergarten student this morning. I was walking down to the 7th grade classroom in preparation for Catechism class as one of my Sunday School students was arriving for the day. He saw me coming down the hall and stopped to say Hi. We had an interesting conversation.
“Hi, Miss Carol.”
“Hi, Blake. Are you ready for another day of Kindergarten?”
“Yes. And I’m going to be good all day today.”
“That’s good. Is that what you promised your mother?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Aren’t you always good?”
“Most of the time.”
Then we split into our separate paths.
I loved that conversation with Blake. It not only made me smile but made me appreciate the honesty of a 5 year old. If we were all that honest, we know that if someone had that same conversation with us, we would have the same answers.
“Are you ready for a new day?”
“Yes. And I’m going to be good all day.”
“Is that what you promised God?”
“Uh-Huh.”
“But aren’t you always good?”
“Not most of the time.”
Like Blake, I often fail in the promises that I make to God and to those around me. There is a chance that Blake’s mom might be disappointed tonight when she hears the report of Blake’s day, but I know that she will still give him hugs and kisses and let him know that she loves him. God does the same for me. He continues to love me and give me good things. He loved me and all of us sinful human beings so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Because of our faith in Jesus, we can say, “I’m sorry for the mess I made of this day.” And God will always offer us forgiveness and a fresh start for a new day. And tomorrow, because Blake loves his mother, he will again promise to be good all day. And out of thankfulness for that gift of forgiveness God gives us, we also will continually make that promise to try harder next time—with the help of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:19 (English Standard Version)
We love because he first loved us.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Son’s death and resurrection which paid the price for our sins. Thank you for the gift of faith that the Holy Spirit has worked in our lives. Thank you for the gift of eternal life that we receive through that faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Help us to show our love to You and to those around us out of thankfulness for the great love that You have shown us.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Childlike Faith
Our Wednesday morning Bible study this week will be looking at Mark 10 as we focus on “The Wisdom of the Master Teacher”. It’s the first lesson in a study from CPH entitled “Health and Well-Being.” I will admit that I almost didn’t give it a closer look after reading the title. But after just reading the titles of the weekly topics, I knew it was worth a second look. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes with our group. Several things have struck me from this chapter. First is in the first verse.
Mark 10:1 (English Standard Version)
1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
As usual, Jesus is teaching. He takes advantage of every opportunity to teach those around him and, in most cases, it is to a crowd! Jesus had the ultimate public preaching ministry.
Then later in the chapter Jesus takes advantage of a teaching moment when He sees the disciples rebuking people for bringing their children.
Mark 10:13-16 (English Standard Version)
Let the Children Come to Me
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14But 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. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
What an example Jesus is giving us as he shows us the value of children—and the value of children in church. And especially, he shows us the value of a childlike faith. This can provide great comfort to us as we see the simple faith of a child. The kingdom of God—salvation—belongs to these children. These children didn’t do anything to earn salvation. They received it by grace through faith in Jesus. What comfort this can give each of us as Jesus admonishes us to receive the kingdom of God like a child. Quit trying to get there by works. Give up the self-righteous efforts. Take the gift that is freely offered. This is a strong admonition. He doesn’t say that this is one way to receive the kingdom. It says that it is the only way! If you don’t receive the kingdom like a child, you won’t enter! Like a helpless child, each of us can receive the kingdom of God by grace through faith in Jesus as our risen Lord and Savior.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who was willing to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. Help us to humbly receive the kingdom of God with the trusting faith of a child.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen
Mark 10:1 (English Standard Version)
1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
As usual, Jesus is teaching. He takes advantage of every opportunity to teach those around him and, in most cases, it is to a crowd! Jesus had the ultimate public preaching ministry.
Then later in the chapter Jesus takes advantage of a teaching moment when He sees the disciples rebuking people for bringing their children.
Mark 10:13-16 (English Standard Version)
Let the Children Come to Me
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14But 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. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
What an example Jesus is giving us as he shows us the value of children—and the value of children in church. And especially, he shows us the value of a childlike faith. This can provide great comfort to us as we see the simple faith of a child. The kingdom of God—salvation—belongs to these children. These children didn’t do anything to earn salvation. They received it by grace through faith in Jesus. What comfort this can give each of us as Jesus admonishes us to receive the kingdom of God like a child. Quit trying to get there by works. Give up the self-righteous efforts. Take the gift that is freely offered. This is a strong admonition. He doesn’t say that this is one way to receive the kingdom. It says that it is the only way! If you don’t receive the kingdom like a child, you won’t enter! Like a helpless child, each of us can receive the kingdom of God by grace through faith in Jesus as our risen Lord and Savior.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who was willing to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. Help us to humbly receive the kingdom of God with the trusting faith of a child.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
September 7
Today is my eldest son’s birthday. Children probably don’t realize this but their birthdays are an opportunity for their parents to reflect on their parenting!
As parents, we love to quote Ephesians 6.1-3 to our children.
Ephesians 6:1-3 (English Standard Version)
Children and Parents
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3"that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
As parents it is also important that we continue reading verse 4.
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
That’s a pretty heavy responsibility. As parents, we can and should take that very seriously and strive to do our very best. But as sinful human beings, we know we will always fall short of that mark of perfection. Many days we need to confess our shortfalls—not only to God but also to our children. I frequently tell young mothers that our children survive and thrive not because of us but in spite of us. The Lutheran Study Bible contains an article entitled “Law and Gospel Parenting.” It makes the statement: “The best way for a Christian to parent a child is to remember that he or she is a child: God’s child.” What better example of parenting than to look to the example of how God parents us—always showing us His Law and His Gospel. As our children become adults, we continue to pray for them and encourage them in their faith journey with the Lord. And when we want to beat ourselves up over the mistakes we have made or blame ourselves for the bad choices our children have made, remember that we are still “Children of the Heavenly Father.” Rest secure in the knowledge that He never forsakes His children.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the blessing you give us in children. Help us to recognize them as gifts on loan from You. Thank you for the perfect example of parenting you show us every day as you deal with us. Help us to show that same Law & Gospel to our children. Thank you for the blood of the Perfect Lamb, Your Son, which forgives us all of our many sins and failures. Thank you for never forsaking Your children!
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
As parents, we love to quote Ephesians 6.1-3 to our children.
Ephesians 6:1-3 (English Standard Version)
Children and Parents
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3"that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
As parents it is also important that we continue reading verse 4.
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
That’s a pretty heavy responsibility. As parents, we can and should take that very seriously and strive to do our very best. But as sinful human beings, we know we will always fall short of that mark of perfection. Many days we need to confess our shortfalls—not only to God but also to our children. I frequently tell young mothers that our children survive and thrive not because of us but in spite of us. The Lutheran Study Bible contains an article entitled “Law and Gospel Parenting.” It makes the statement: “The best way for a Christian to parent a child is to remember that he or she is a child: God’s child.” What better example of parenting than to look to the example of how God parents us—always showing us His Law and His Gospel. As our children become adults, we continue to pray for them and encourage them in their faith journey with the Lord. And when we want to beat ourselves up over the mistakes we have made or blame ourselves for the bad choices our children have made, remember that we are still “Children of the Heavenly Father.” Rest secure in the knowledge that He never forsakes His children.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the blessing you give us in children. Help us to recognize them as gifts on loan from You. Thank you for the perfect example of parenting you show us every day as you deal with us. Help us to show that same Law & Gospel to our children. Thank you for the blood of the Perfect Lamb, Your Son, which forgives us all of our many sins and failures. Thank you for never forsaking Your children!
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
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