Series: New New
Romans 10:9 ESV
Early in my life a Sunday School teacher asked me if I want to know Jesus. I said Yes.
Then another time she taught a lesson about Jesus dying on the cross for us and she asked again if we want to know Jesus. I said yes again.
I believe answering yes was my moment of salvation. I do not believe the specific wording matters. Wanting Jesus to be part of our lives is what matters.
Romans 10:9 tells us, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Paul specifically stated if you say Jesus is Lord by answering the question in the affirmative and you believe in the resurrection you are saved. Notice he did not say we have to specifically answer the question, “do you believe in the resurrection?”
In our heart we simply have to believe in the resurrection.
For many years I taught four and five year olds in Sunday School. I’ve also taught older children, junior high and high school, and women’s Sunday School. For nearly thirty years I also did a children’s sermon in regular church.
After teaching several different age groups I have to say four and five year old children are more enthusiastic and open to receiving Jesus than any other group.
They love Jesus and they believe Jesus walked out of the tomb. They believe Jesus is the Son of God and He can do anything.
While I cannot definitively say every young child who was enthusiastic was saved but I think there’s a good chance their name was written in the book of life the day they said yes to God. Of course, only God knows the whole story for each child.
So, one of my sons was one of the younger children I know who said yes to Jesus. He was a young four year old and even though I knew he was enthusiastic about Jesus, he was very young. I told him Jesus loves him and I let it go at that.
Then one day a preacher my husband knew from Seminary came to do a revival at our church.
As we were leaving church on Sunday my four year old son went up to him, tugged on his sleeve and said, “I asked Jesus into my heart but my Dad didn’t baptize me. Will you baptize me?”
The visiting Pastor looked at us and raised an eyebrow and said, “Oh really?”
He picked up my young son and told him, “yes, as soon as we can get the water warm for you I will baptize you!” (He knew the baptismal tank was filled and ready but not warm.)
I learned a great lessons that day.
I learned I do not have the right to speak for God.
I learned God can speak to any child no matter how young they are.
I learned to pay attention to the heart of a person and not just their specific words.
My young son was baptized very soon after this conversation. He has never wavered in his commitment to God.
After that day I sought forgiveness for not listening well and I made a point to listen and ask questions when anyone asks about “getting Jesus”.
I discovered that day that God speaks in myriad of ways to people of all ages because God is God and God can do anything.
I learned I need to pray and listen with my heart.
Spiritual Practice: Believe
Do you believe God can do anything? Think of one miracle you’ve witnessed that you didn’t expect and thank God for being there for us.
In God, Deborah
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