We don't just believe/receive and then we're left to fend for ourselves until we die and go to Heaven. Last night I listened to the sermon I missed (click link) the day before while teaching Sunday School.
He spoke on exactly, exactly what I was trying to piece together in my thoughts/prayers. Salvation is Emmanuel!
Peace, a Wonderful Counselor, a Friend, a Father, a comforter,
a sustain-er, healer, hope, guidance,Unwavering absolution(even when we doubt)
Emmanuel! God with us here on earth!
The part that makes it Relation, not religion!
Hallelujah!
Salvation is so much more than just a Heaven-pass!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will
be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In Sunday School I teach a class of boys ages Gr.1-3. Above is the story of yesterday's lesson.
Why was Jesus born? I asked after story-time.
'To save us from our sins', came the prompt reply
(just as they were told during story-time when asked the same question)
But so what? I challenged them (having previously discussed that sin is all bad stuff/disobedience)
Why does Jesus have to save us from our sins?
Why do we need a Saviour?
At first they were stumped then one volunteered 'so we can go to Heaven when we die!'
Yes! So we can go to Heaven when we die.
The shepherds believed even before they saw what the angels said.
We believe too even if we can't see. We call that faith!
So I pressed them further. "why is it so important that we believe?
If we miss Heaven, is that a big deal? What happens if we don't believe?"
There was silence for a little then one boy said
"I think you go somewhere else when you die or you're just dead".
'No', interjected another. 'you go in a lake of fire"
Yes! I said soberly. We do not like to think about it or talk about hell but that is the opposite of Heaven and that is what makes this Christmas story so, SO AWESOME!
Jesus came to save us so we don't have to got to hell.
Sin dooms us unless we have a Saviour and that Saviour is Jesus!
That is why this is such an important and Wonder-full story to tell and know!
That is why Christmas is the best!
Jesus was born.
Our Savior!
Our way out of hell!
Our way into Heaven!
After everyone left one little boy who is quite new to our class stayed behind .
He said, I always liked Christmas because it's Christmas, you know?
but now that I know all about Jesus I like it even way, way more, you know?
then he dashed off.
So to all 'teachers and preachers' aka moms, dads, grandparents etc...
let's keep on telling the good News of Jesus
for it is His will that not one soul should perish!
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance.
For God so loved the
world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in
Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not
condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned,
because he
has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
And this is the
verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness more
than light, because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever practices the truth
comes into the Light, so that it may be clearly seen that what he has
done has been accomplished in God.”
As we mixed, stirred, cooked and baked, turning what looked like chaos
... into soup, salad, cookies, cake, etc,
...it made me think that raising families and cooking have a lot in common.
Often it is messy, noisy, doesn't seem like a pinch of this and a dash of that is too significant but in the end it can make all the difference, the little 'dashes' add up to something far bigger!
Stories nurture dreams, prayers and devotions teach faith and worship, singing wakens joy, reprimand teaches right from wrong, conversation teaches communication,
compliments build confidence, and so forth...
What is in your 'mixing bowl'? (For some Delicious cooking ideas click HERE!)
and remember, its not the middle but the end result that its about so we should use lots of 'Good' stuff for the finished product to be 'nice'!
And of course, we learn through trial and error:)
It's good for all of us to re-evaluate our 'ingredients' from time to time
Aren't you glad one of the best ingredients we can put in our mixing bowl is laughter?
The boys that come after school on Thursdays have a 'rule' that all leftover lunch must be eaten before any Janet-supper may be tasted.
I thought all three of them had their carrot-sticks chewed and swallowed, but after supper I discovered Youngest's carrots on a cozy sleigh-ride with some country-mice!!!
