This morning, Maddie asked me if I knew anyone who is in het. Huh? It took her a while, but she finally figured out that she was mispronouncing the word. She meant hell.
“Anyone who doesn’t ask Jesus to be his Savior will go to hell when they die,” I responded. With the hope of sharing the Gospel with my children, I pointed out that they have not yet asked Jesus to be their Savior.
Then, a miracle began to unfold. Maddie asked how to become a Christian. We’ve shared the Gospel with Angel and Maddie several times, but in the past, when we ask them if they want to become Christians, they have both said no. Would this time be different?
I reviewed the Cubbies verses they recited last week. They sang along:
All have sinned. -Romans 3:23
While we were sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. -1 Corinthians 5:13
Next, I pulled out a craft that Jubilee made a long time ago. I have kept it because it’s a clear explanation of the ABC’s of the Gospel: Admit I sin. Believe in Jesus. Choose to believe in Jesus and follow Him.
Both Angel and Maddie were tuned into what I was sharing. They didn’t walk away, change the subject, or start to look elsewhere.
The Good News of Jesus Christ had been shared. With bated breath, I asked my younger daughters, “Do you want to ask Jesus to be your Savior?”
“How,” Maddie asked curiously. This is a good sign!
“You pray what’s called the Sinner’s Prayer. Do you want to pray? I can pray and you can say it after me.”
Maddie said yes. I looked at Angel, my face very close to her face, “Do you want to ask Jesus to be your Savior?” I wanted to make sure she was agreeing on her own accord. Angel nodded her head.
This is really happening!
After a short discussion, we decided I would pray out loud, Maddie would repeat, then Angel would repeat. It turned out sometimes Angel prayed at the same time and sometimes she waited until after Maddie. It was very sweet. At the end, I had them say, “Now I am a Christian!”
After praying, I opened up my arms so they could come to me to receive a big hug. They were very happy. I said, “Let’s call Daddy!”
“Yeah,” they said. “No, let’s go tell Grammy!” I convinced them to tell David first, then run to Grammy’s house. On the phone, they were hesitant at first to say anything.
I prodded them by slowly saying, “We are now-”
“-Christians!” Maddie excitedly completed the sentence.
At the exact same time, Angel shouted, “We prayed!”
They continued to shout simultaneously. I eventually told David what happened. He was equally excited.
Finally, they ran to Grammy’s house to share the news. Meanwhile, I fell to my knees in praise of this same Savior. It is only by Jesus’ grace, this undeserved favor, that we have been saved.
When we picked Jubilee up from school, we told her the good news that comes from believing in the Good News. She was ecstatic. Later that day, I suggest she pray for them.
“Dear God,” she prayed, “Thank You for shining Your grace over Angel and Maddie.”
For it is by grace that you have been saved, not by works, that no man should boast. -Galatians 2:8-9
