DownshoreDrift

As a pastor, I get the amazing privilege of being able to minister to children and talk with them and their families about spiritual things. Before anyone is baptized in our church, I meet with them and go through the gospel and what baptism means. We have a lot of kids in our church, and it has been awesome to see many of them confess faith in Christ over the past year and obey God in baptism. God has truly been at work in the lives of our kids, and it has been awesome to see.

I have been really excited to see this in my own children. I know, you think it's a given, right? Well, it really isn't. Just because parents are in church, or their dad is a pastor, it doesn't necessarily mean that the kids are going to be hungry spiritually. But, God has been gracious. My oldest daughter got baptized this year, after she received God's gift of salvation almost two years ago. She has a sensitive heart for the Lord and for others as well. She is such a blessing.

Recently, my oldest son, who is 5, has really begun to talk with me about God. He was given a Bible for Christmas the other day, and he has been bringing it to me to read to him. He wants to read John 3:16 everyday, and everything that comes before it and after it. We started trying that, and he kept asking what came before. Finally, I decided to start reading the book of John to him. He keeps reminding me, listening, and asking questions. I had to take him to the doctor this morning, and he talked to me about God, salvation, and being baptized the whole way. He kept saying, "Daddy, let's talk about God. I want to be baptized." I told him that he needed to wait awhile until he was a bit older and understood things better. He answered, "Daddy, let's talk about God now. I want to understand. Help me understand." I was blown away.

He is asking questions, praying, and seeking God in a way that is far greater than just wanting to go to Heaven.  Almost everytime he says he loves me, he says he loves me more than anything, but not more than God. He makes that very clear. God is truly at work in the lives of my kids and He is drawing them to Him. I am grateful.

Now, my three year old son, on the other hand, was caught carrying part of his dinner to the trash can to make us think he had finished it all so he could have dessert. He was disillusioned to find that that did not go over very well. Ah, his depravity is beginning to show. Lord? :)