(from the 2014 annual report)

John 3:16 is probably the most familiar passage of Scripture and most memorized. It is the sweet message of God’s love for sinners. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. In verse 18, Jesus again reminds us that it is simply by faith in Him that we are saved from condemnation but reminds us that those who do not believe are condemned, going to hell eternally. We understand why people would be bringing their children to Jesus. He alone is the Savior.

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16

Our goal as believers, knowing we are already saved, is to bring others to Jesus. Why would anyone not? The disciples saw the children as second class citizens. They weren’t important. They were taking up Jesus valuable time, so the disciples thought. Jesus was indignant. He was angry, strongly opposed to this attitude of the disciples. Not only were they souls that needed Jesus but the hearts of children display the wonder of faith, a simple trust in God’s Word.

Our goal as believers, knowing we are already saved, is to bring others to Jesus. Why would anyone not? I suppose one could think that there are more important things in life. There is not. I suppose one could think that there are higher priorities for our resources. There is not. I suppose one could think that there is plenty of time for a person to come to faith. Sometimes there is not. A person’s time of grace, or the time that God has given them on this earth to believe in Jesus can end very suddenly, and sometimes at a very young age. Our goal as a body of believers is to bring others to Jesus.

In the past 15 years the preschool and childcare center has been an avenue by which this congregation has brought little children to Jesus. The most recent vision of First Lutheran, to be completed by 2017, was to build upon this ministry and incorporate it into the main church campus. The congregation has supported this ministry through its offerings and the Lord continues to bless this vision in many ways.

So let the children come and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Why is it so important that they come? Why is it so important that children and adults alike come and hear God’s Word? Because faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. Romans 10:17. Paul poses the rhetorical question just prior to verse 17, “how can people believe in Jesus if they don’t know him? How can they know him without someone preaching to them?” They can’t. The Gospel must be preached to the ears of those who don’t believe and will be condemned.

Our goal as believers, knowing we are already saved, is to bring others to Jesus. Why would anyone not? We will. The Lord has blessed the proclamation of his Word in 2014. Children and adults have come to faith and children of God nurtured in that faith. So we trust the Lord will continue to bless this Gospel ministry in whatever form it may take as we strive to continue to bring others to Jesus. Amen.

 

Keep Christ First!

Pastor Christenson