Thoughts for Life: Too Young or Too Old?

Michael Brooks - A few years ago, my daughter Amanda (who was seven years old at the time), came home from school one day and told us,

"I accepted Jesus today as my Lord and Savior."

Her mother and I were shocked to say the least.

Sure Amanda has been raised in a Christian home and has been taught about Jesus since birth, but come on -- accepting Jesus at the age of seven! Could she really be old enough to understand her commitment?

So we quizzed her,

"Who is Jesus?" Amanda: "He is the Son of God." "How many sons does God have?" Amanda: "Only one." "Why did He come to earth?" Amanda: "To show us how to live and to die for our sins."

"What does that mean?" Amanda: "He got nailed to a cross."

Amanda stopped for a moment as tears formed in her eyes. Sherry asked,

"What's the matter?" Amanda: "I love Jesus so much!"

The conversation went on a while longer, but Sherry and I had already made up our minds: She is saved!

In the first part of our passage today, Paul tells us faith comes from hearing the message. It doesn't matter whether we are seven years old, seventeen or seventy-seven.

In the second part, Paul tells us how we hear the message -- "through the word of Christ." Amanda heard the word of Christ spoken and read at home, at school, in church, with her brother and sisters, with our friends, and throughout our activities. Is it any great wonder she wanted Jesus for herself?

The next day Sherry and I met with her teacher Mrs. Kimh who had led her to Christ. We asked,

"How did the subject come up?" Mrs. Kimh said, "We were reading and talking about the difference between the baptism of Jesus Christ and the baptism of John in Acts 19, and Amanda started to cry.

I asked her, 'What's wrong?' She asked, "Why can't I be baptized?"

From all of my experience with Amanda I knew how much she loves the Lord. I asked her if she would like to accept Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior.

She said, "Yes, so I thought it was appropriate to lead her in the Sinner's Prayer."

From Sherry and my perspective, the timing was right and very "age appropriate."

Amanda was baptized by Sherry and me the following Sunday
morning before the entire church body as she made a joyful and public confession of her faith. However, she was saved the afternoon she prayed with Mrs. Kimh and gave her life to Jesus.

Questions to Ponder:

I have read and studied a lot about the "age of maturity". How old does one need to be before they are mature enough to make a decision for Christ?

The conclusion I've come to is this -- God can lay claim to anyone's life at any age He chooses. Whether young or old, sick and dying or healthy and vibrant, youthful innocence or caught up in the most heinous sin imaginable.

Who am I to question God's authority? Does someone you know need to be introduced to Jesus? Will you do so today? Faith comes from hearing the message.

Too Young or Too Old? Michael Brooks of The Pocket Testament League

(Google image of young girl added; not Michael's daughter. Emphasis added)

Let’s pray:

Father, it is good to
know that You can call
anyone at any age!

One of my sons, at the age of 4, gave his heart to You at a revival service, and he's faithfully serving You today! He's been a pastor, deacon, and recently was asked to be the Town Judge! I think they want a man of integrity this time.

Thank You for reaching out to our children at such a tender age. May the teachers of the youth realize the opportunity they have in bringing their charges to Christ.

When folks are older, there often is a resistance to Your urging them to surrender to Your Plan of salvation. This makes it hard to convince them that You love them, and that there's forgiveness available for them through Christ Jesus' Atonement on the Cross of Calvary.

Help us do what You lead us to do to win souls at all ages. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: 2 Chron. 34:27a "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God...I have even heard thee."

Today’s quote: Cindy Sproles – “As parents, all we can do is raise our children beneath the wings of Christ. Train them up in the ways of God and then, when the babies spread their wings … pray. Pray fervently, continually, and with deep passion. When they wander, pray. When they falter, pray. When they sin, pray. When, when, when … just pray.

When you worry about your kids and you suffer at their pain, lay them at the feet of Jesus. And then trust He will take them into His arms. Let Christ ease the suffering and lessen the pain of childbirth.”

http://www.facebook.com/CindySproles
mountainbreezeministries@gmail.com

Some thoughts today: Ask God to enable you to minister in love to the broken, rebellious people you meet.

- Your songs before the lord brings down Satan's scheme against what God wants you to accomplish.

- Let your ministry be born out of your integrity before God. Seek God how to be used to minister to the hurting.

26th- Tuesday’s post: God's Intended Purposes
April Estes

28th- Thursday's post: Visibility Zero
Andrea Merrell

30th- Saturday's post: What's in it for You?
Jean Oathout

31st- Sunday's post: Christian Benefits
Jean Oathout