AS A CHILD...

A preacher stood at his podium, his eyes filled with tears. He looked out at his congregation. He began to open his Bible then stopped and closed it. He stepped down from the podium and sat on the steps of the stage. He began to address the congregation.

"I have asked all the adults, teenagers, and children to meet in the sanctuary again as you all did last Sunday. Last Sunday we had a special guest evangelist in our church. He had all adults, teenagers, and children sit in the sanctuary. He spoke to you about what it meant to us as Christians today. He told you about how if you would believe by faith in Jesus name you could lay hands on people and heal them from sicknesses, cast out demons, and set free those that are oppressed. He told you about how Jesus was whipped 39 times so you would never have to be sick. He told you about how you could defeat Satan by the blood of Jesus and how Jesus defeated death for us when he died and resurrected. Now you might be wondering why that would make me sad, but that’s not what brings me to tears today. What brings me to tears is what the Lord revealed to me this morning as I prepared the message. He told me what each one of you prayed that night after you heard the evangelical message.

This is what the adults prayed:
Dear Lord please show this man the error of his ways. Show him that the things he tried to teach us are false. Show him oh Lord that nobody knows your will for us about being healed, and having peace, and over death. Thank you oh Lord for letting me know the truth and I pray that you will reveal the truth the this so called evangelist. In Jesus name. Amen.

The teenagers were too busy and tired to bother praying.

This is what the children prayed:
Dear God thank you for my mommy and daddy and sissy and brother and my doggy Jeb. God please heal my grandma from the cancer in Jesus name. Please help my daddy stop smoking and my mommy from being sad in Jesus name. Thank you for sending that man that taught me so much about who you are and what your son Jesus did for me. Please never ever let the Holy Spirit leave me and never ever let me stop believing that Jesus came to earth so that no one that I love ever has to be sick, sad or die. I plead the blood of Jesus over all my friends and my mommy and daddy and sissy and brother and all my family and my dog Jeb. Thank you for answering my prayers in Jesus name. I’ll talk to you tomorrow God. In Jesus name. Amen.

My heart cries tears of sorrow because of the self-righteous indignation most of you adults have that you have passed down to your teenagers. But my heart also cries tears of joy because of the faith that the Lord has instilled in the hearts of these children. You all could learn something from the prayers of your children. Rather than condemn them for who they believe Jesus is you should all get into your Bibles and learn it for yourself. That is why I have asked the evangelist to come again and teach the message again in more depth. He will be hear every Sunday and will teach it to you until you get it. Even if it takes all year. I will be sitting down in the front row learning with you all."

With that said the preacher stepped down for the stage and sat next to his wife. Then the evangelist walked up and stood behind the podium. He opened up his Bible and began to speak.

"Everybody open your Bibles up to 1 Peter 2:22-25…”


Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive and accept and welcome the kingdom of God [with faith] like a little child [does] positively shall not enter it at all.
(MARK 10:15)