New Birth
Posted in Daily Focus on Thursday, June 5, 2014
"And he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30b).
As I tucked my two oldest children into their bunk beds, I felt the pull of my own bed calling me. Our homeschooling family had relocated near our mission organization's headquarters, so my husband and I could receive extensive child evangelism training. Late nights in preparing teaching visuals for our training lessons, studying biblical doctrine in-depth, and maintaining our homeschooling schedule had frazzled us both mentally and physically. Each night we were half asleep before we even laid our heads on the pillow, and tonight was no different. However, as I reached to turn out the light after reading a story to our oldest son and daughter, my daughter asked, "Mom, how can I get to heaven?" Smiling, I realized this was the moment I had been praying for since the day she was born. God was giving me the amazing gift of letting me be the one to guide my child through her second birth. Praying for extra physical strength and God's divine wisdom, I proceeded to share the message of salvation with both my daughter and my son that night. "How fitting," I thought as I rejoiced in their decision to accept Christ. "Christ taught me the Scripture I needed to know during our training in order to lead my own children to Him first."
Soul winners are not just born. They're taught, trained, and motivated by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, when Jesus was on Earth, He took three years to teach and train His disciples the art of soul winning. However, even with all the modern witnessing techniques of today, winning souls is still ineffective without the Holy Spirit's leading and conviction. Only God can illuminate the mind of unbelieving children and adults, convict their hearts of their sinful condition, and move their wills to respond in faith.
Are you prepared to share the hope that lies within you (1 Peter 3:15)? As a Christian homeschooling parent, God says you're part of a witnessing team (Acts 5:32). Yielded and obedient to the Holy Spirit, you have the amazing privilege of leading countless souls to the Savior of the world, starting with your own family. No matter what method you use, be prepared to share the Gospel and enjoy the greatest privilege of being a homeschooling parent — leading your children to Christ.
Father God, leading our children to a saving knowledge of You is one reason we homeschool. Please, use me to teach them about You and invite them to receive You as Savior and Lord. In Jesus' saving name, Amen.
Comments(8 comments)
DEE DEE G 06/05/2009 05:53:24
How did you word your explanation so it was simple enough for a child to understand, yet covered the important points? My son (5 years old) has been asking questions, yet I fear I am giving him too much information on some points and not enough on others. When he makes the decision to ask Christ into his heart, I want to make sure he understands what he is doing, but I don't want to overwhelm him with so much information that he never gets to the point of making the decision.
JANET T 06/05/2009 06:17:09
Dee Dee -
Hopefully, this will give you an idea of the main points to cover with your son. May God give you the wisdom you need to share the GOSPEL clearly.
http://www.janetsjournal.com/index.php/2006/07/21/leading-your-child-to-christ/
RENE H 06/05/2010 09:10:54
This was the very first Daily Focus I have received and read. I am blessed and will definately read more. Thank you.
ALYSSA B 06/05/2011 10:54:25
This brought tears to my eyes. Just this morning, I had the privilege to help lead 6 kids to the Lord in Children's Church. The Lord is alive and working in our world. Amen.
SUSAN M 06/05/2011 14:13:06
No greater joy indeed! We had an 11 year old trust Christ today in our SS hour. His mom trusted Christ the week before and his aunt and uncle just a few weeks ago! Whee ...all are to be baptized tonight. Thankful as Alyssa B. said that the "The Lord is alive and working in our world!" Amen!
KRISTA J 06/05/2012 04:12:13
Christ is such a wonderful gift and yet we need to be reminded to give the gift everyday!
KATHY S 06/05/2012 06:26:03
I would have to say my son was 3 or 4 years old, he could speak.
I had him repeat a small version of the sinners prayer, just being \"Extra cautious\".
At that time, and always. the most important thing ever you can give to your child is the key to Jesus\'s great gift of salvation.
He prayed with our Pastor again at age 11, then I re explained after,as there was a little confusion.
When you say \"give you life to Jesus, always clarify, your will, to follow, to have Jesus be Lord of your life.
His confusion was that he thought he had to die, nowor soon anyway. I explained that Jeus doesn;t wan\'t us to die now and be with him, but to \"die of our old sinful ways and have a new life in Christ\".
My Sweet Boy still prayed the prayer and gave his life to the Lord, but he got sad after and I couldn\'t understand why, then he said \"he wasn\'t ready to go to Heaven yet\", I explained as clearly as I could. Everything was o.k. then. How our children interperit things is interesting.
So, really explain when you lead your children to salvation.
My happiness is, my son follows Jesus everyday. prays, and Loves Jesus so very much, I know one day we will be in Heaven together for Eternity! Thank you Jesus!
ROSA C 06/05/2012 21:18:39
We have 2 sons 11 and 8. They love God and want to be his disciple one day. It takes more than a prayer to be saved, Acts 2:36-38. We want to make sure they understand the commitment they will be making. We have seen many young children accept Jesus only to grow older and live a life of sin thinking all they need to do is say a prayer and it will make everything o.k.