Summertime StoriesSample

Acts 15:8-11,19

8 God knows people’s hearts, and He confirmed that He accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us. 

9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts through faith. 

10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 

11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

19 “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God."

I was raised in a denomination which taught that salvation was earned through good works. When I first heard the true Gospel message of GRACE, my heart felt free, and my soul rested. This idea that there was nothing I could do to earn my salvation overwhelmed me with humility and gratitude. Jesus paid it all! My obedience is a result and overflows from my encounter with Christ, not a requirement to get to Him. 

When I became a mom, my greatest desire was to see my children fall in love with Jesus and choose a life with Him. I remember vividly driving home from church one Sunday when my oldest told me she wanted to ask Jesus to be her Savior. She was four. It was not the moment I had planned for; she was so young. Did she really GET it? So, I started asking her theological questions — do you understand what that means? Are you SURE you are ready to pray to Jesus and ask Him into your heart? Do you recognize that you are a sinner? Do you TRULY believe that Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross and rose from the dead to free us from sin and have eternity with Him? Will you love and serve Him all the days of your life?  

She interrupted me, “Shhh, mom, stop talking, I am praying to Jesus right now.” 

If I can be totally honest with you, I was equally overwhelmed with joy and incredibly skeptical of my daughter’s salvation experience. I went home, told my husband about the moment, and asked him what he thought. His response was humbling. He said, “Doesn’t Jesus tell us to enter the Kingdom like a child? Why are you making it difficult for our daughter to go to Heaven?” My faith was shaken. Sure, I had taught with joy in Kids District and preached the simplicity of the Gospel message, but when my child responded, it was hard for me to believe. It exposed my tendency to still believe in good works and self-righteousness. Maybe I needed to ask my daughter to pray for ME. 

I love the story in Acts 15 because it is about the inclusivity of the Gospel. God desires that NO one shall perish. He paid the cost, and ALL we have to do it is humbly accept the gift. None of us deserve it, but all of us are invited to receive it. Let’s not make it hard for people to enter the Kingdom. Share the beautifully simple Gospel, and let God do His work in their hearts. 

Who can you share the Good News of God’s grace with today?