Via TJC
Last week’s authors had served or are serving in the military and shared with TJC readers poignant letters intended for home.
This week’s authors (all civilians) share with you examples of what each of us have considered as key points we’ve shared with our own families.
We start today with the bottom line up front.
Daily Battle Order: If you are a father or grandfather, here is a tip. Start young! When my wife and I cared for our granddaughter during her first 2 ½ years, I would rock her and whisper in her ear. I would tell her how much we loved her and how much God loved her. I literally shared the gospel with an infant and toddler. When I would start whispering in her ear, she would get dead still and press her ear up against my face. I am doing the same now with my three month old grandson whom we are keeping three days a week. What a joy!
Go to your App store and download the “Share Your Faith” app. It will help you walk your child through the gospel message. However you choose to do it, share the message of the cross with your child today.
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And now, the rest of the story …
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” ~Matthew 19:13-16 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not a result of works so that no man can boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9
As a minister with over 45 years of working with children and youth, I have heard a lot of questions from kids about God. Some are funny. Some are sad. And some are…well…harder to explain. One question I have encountered a lot is “Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?” It seems so barbaric, doesn’t it? And it was.
There is a great way to show the need for the cross by drawing or showing children (or adults) the Bridge Diagram:
It begins with US on one side and GOD on the other side of a deep, uncrossable cavern. See that wide gap (separation) between US and GOD? You can’t get there on your own.
But God gave us a way to reach Him. He provided the cross, (The diagram is updated with the Cross as a bridge, allowing us to cross over the cavern (=death) and be with God, when we receive Christ).
So, why did God choose the cross? Because our sins required a blood sacrifice in order to be forgiven. Christ shed His innocent blood on that cross for us. He paid the ultimate price for our salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not a result of works so that no man can boast.”
The cross was necessary. The cross bridged the gap – forever!
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