John 3:36
When does salvation come? When we look to Christ. When we embrace him as Savior. Astonishingly simple, isn't it? Claim the great promise of John 3:16: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life."
God, the Lover. God, the Giver. God, the Savior. And man, the believer. And for those who believe, he has promised new birth.
But despite the simplicity, there are still those who don't believe. They don't trust his promise...
If only they would try. If only they would test it. But God is as polite as he is passionate. He never forces his way. The choice is theirs.
These are the words from a devotinal by Max Lucado--Grace for the Moment. This was the devotion for June 30, 2010. I actually didn't read them until the 1st of July. Why is this so significant to me? Why do those words comfort me? Because on June 30, 2010, at Falls Creek, my son accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Do you know how long I've been praying for him? I'll tell you how long...his entire life. Since before he was born. When I found out I was pregnant with him, I was thrilled, as most moms to be are. You see, I'd tried to get pregnant with him from day one of getting married. I thanked the Lord daily for him. I began to pray that my children would come to know Him at an early age. And, I prayed(still do) that my kids would follow the Lord and allow Him to be a part of their lives. I've prayed that He would use them for His glory.
For the last few years its been a tad difficult for all of us. Having the diagnosis of diabetes thrown at us was completely and totally unexpected. While I knew that God was in control and that He knew long before we did that Colton would have diabetes...I knew I had to trust in Him. And trust in Him for the last ten years is what I've done. Without my Jesus by my side, I would not have been able to make it through.
Pray without ceasing..thats what we are to do. 1 Thess. 5:17 tells us this. Pray without ceasing is what I frequently find myself doing. Thats how I go about my day, praying to the Lord to be with various people in my life and thanking Him for His many blessings.
Colton didn't want to go to camp. He told me he didn't want to go to diabetes camp or church camp. He just didn't want to go. Nothing I said could change his mind. Several weeks ago, I started to notice different little 'changes' in him. My nieces and nephew talked him into going to camp. I was thrilled, as were many in my family. I immediately asked for prayer for him from several people. Why? Because my son needed Jesus.
He's fought and fought making this most important decision. The most important decision he could ever make. My heart longed to see him come to know Jesus. Anger..resentment...frustrations...anger(again).
Those are all feelings that he has harbored. All of those feelings are a result of his health. I know he must feel like he was robbed of his childhood when he was smaller. For goodness sakes! He was only 2 when his little world as well as mine and his dad's, was shattered.
Praise God that he has finally given his life to Christ. Its an amazing feeling to see changes as a result of that decision being made. Do my prayers stop now? Certainly not. My prayers will continue for Colton, as well as for Tobi. I want my kids to KNOW that Jesus needs to be FIRST in all that they do. I pray for their health, and their safety and their future spouses.
I've told a few people, that some of the sweetest words I could ever hear, were said to me a week ago today: As I stood in the gym at church looking for his luggage, since they'd just got back from camp, I was talking to my niece. I heard, "Hey mom!!" I looked up and saw my son and said "Hey!" back to him. He looked at me without any hesitation and said, "Mom, I have something very important to tell you! I got saved!!!!!"
Thank you Lord, for that HUGE answer to prayers
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