Scabbers or Why We take the time to Counsel for Salvation.
As a substitute teacher giving the Bible lesson at a Good News Club, I had just reached the climax of Nathan, the prophet, pointing his finger at David and yelling, "You are that man!" The lesson rapidly rose to a climax and now; the invitation. Quickly reviewing the need for salvation, how salvation could be achieved and explaining the condition/promise verse, I had the children bow their heads and close their eyes. All during the invitation my eyes kept returning to one young man who seemed more distraught then the others. The Lord must surely be working on his heart. I prayed that today would be the day the Holy Spirit would touch his heart. Sure enough when I asked the children to respond to the invitation by "showing me", he responded. My heart was leaping for joy. The Holy Spirit had triumphed and another special soul would be added to the kingdom! Pulling aside the two children who responded to the invitation, a newly trained colleague and I began the counseling process. We asked questions of the two children such as, "What do you want Jesus to do for you?" The young lady had received the Lord the week before and thought she had to re-accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior every week but the eyes of the young man still brimmed with tears. My... the Holy Spirit must really be tugging at his heart. He didn't really respond to the question so we asked another question, "Why did you come back to talk to me today?"
It was at that time, our young man informed us he had already accepted Jesus as his Lord but he was worried about his pet rat, Scabbers. He had discovered that rats usually only live three years and Scabbers was already 3 months old. My colleague and I looked at each other. This was not what we were expecting. After spending time talking, we prayed the Lord would help the young man and Scabbers. And if the rat died early that Jesus would help to make it easier on the heart of the young man.
Later as my colleague and I shared the experience, we noted these are the reasons we counsel and ask questions requiring more than a yes or no answer. Children respond to an invitation for many reasons and we need to be in tune to the Holy Spirit to help us counsel wisely.
Oh yes, the Lord partially answered the prayers of the young man... two weeks later... Scabbers had eleven babies!
It was at that time, our young man informed us he had already accepted Jesus as his Lord but he was worried about his pet rat, Scabbers. He had discovered that rats usually only live three years and Scabbers was already 3 months old. My colleague and I looked at each other. This was not what we were expecting. After spending time talking, we prayed the Lord would help the young man and Scabbers. And if the rat died early that Jesus would help to make it easier on the heart of the young man.
Later as my colleague and I shared the experience, we noted these are the reasons we counsel and ask questions requiring more than a yes or no answer. Children respond to an invitation for many reasons and we need to be in tune to the Holy Spirit to help us counsel wisely.
Oh yes, the Lord partially answered the prayers of the young man... two weeks later... Scabbers had eleven babies!
For more information on counseling children for Christ:
CEF of Idaho Top 10 Counties Chapter
PO Box 965
Kamiah, ID 83536
Beverly Wisdom, local director
[email protected]
208.935.7996
Providing Living Water for the Children of northern Idaho.
Reaching the unchurched children for Jesus Christ through after school Good News Clubs (GNC), Jesus-You Connection (JYC), and Christian Youth in Actiion (CYIA).
CEF Top Ten
PO Box 965
Kamiah, ID 83536
Beverly Wisdom, local director
[email protected]
208.935.7996
Providing Living Water for the Children of northern Idaho.
Reaching the unchurched children for Jesus Christ through after school Good News Clubs (GNC), Jesus-You Connection (JYC), and Christian Youth in Actiion (CYIA).
CEF Top Ten