Lesson from Samuel
Over a year ago I came across this passage.
1 Samuel 8:1-3 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
Samuel was the man that God chose to bring His people back to Him after a long series of rejection, repentance, and restitution. It struck me then that this man could bring a country to it’s knees before God, but that his own children chose to reject God. As I came across this passage again recently in my personal devotions, it struck me to the core that there is nothing that I can do to ensure that my child will accept Christ as its Savior. All of the books, parenting theories, love, and baby Einstein videos can’t ensure a thing. It takes the Holy Spirit to convict our child and for our child to accept Christ as its Savior.
The same applies to our work here in Peru. Food, shelter, love, and Bible studies don’t ensure that each child that we work with will accept Christ as their Savior. The best that we can do is to show that the beauty of a life of walking with our Savior. What Elise and I ask is that you pray for the Holy Spirit to convict each of these children (and our baby) and that they make decisions to accept Jesus as their Savior.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Scarey but oh so true. More reminders that WE are not the ones in control. So glad you guys made it there safely!!!!