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When my son was six years old, my husband and I were involved with Sunday School and various Christian activities in our local church. We would pray about concerns as a family, and I would pray with my son at bedtime. That summer, my son taught himself to swim. Strangely enough, swimming underwater was how he swam at first, even opening his eyes below the surface of the water, probably to see where he was going. Maybe thinking about swimming prompted his question one evening when I was hearing his prayers. Suddenly, he blurted out, “Mum, what would you do if I drowned?”
“I would be sad,” I said, but then explained how, if he loved Jesus, he would go to Heaven to be with Him. After a few more questions from him, I asked, “Do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?” He started bouncing around excitedly in agreement. After I coached him as to how to pray, he did, affirming,
“Now I'm sure I'll go to Heaven! Now I belong to Him!”
Such a precious and significant moment.
My young son knew he was a child of God. He knew he had become a member of God's family.
“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father' “ (Galatians 4:6 NLT)
Abba is the Aramaic term in the Bible that calls God, the Father, “Daddy,” an intimate term. The Holy Spirit made Himself real to my son, assuring him that now he belonged to God. As a trusting child, he could now address God as a loving Father, as “Daddy.”
“he [God] has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us." (2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT)
My son had proof of who he was. He did not yet understand the full extent of the promises God would bring to pass in his life, but one thing he was sure of -- he belonged to God.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT)
“It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:21)
We who are believers know we have the Spirit, because once we say “Yes” to God, the fruit of the Spirit described in Galations begins to grow in us, and we become more like Jesus, standing firmly for Him. We begin to see life from God's perspective, not from our self-centred point-of-view.
As believers, the Holy Spirit leads us through life. As we listen in His presence, He will speak to our hearts, and instruct us in making the right decisions, decisions that lead to life. We want to be sure we belong to God. Have you said “Yes” to Him? Have you led your children to say “Yes” to Him?
Prayer: Abba, Father, thank You that You make Yourself real to us as we say “Yes” to You. Help us to grow as Your children and stand firm for You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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