As a dad, one of the most humbling and glorious things is to watch God pursue your kids (his kids, I should say). He is mighty to save, and I got to see this up close yesterday as my son Orin (6) initiated his baptism, spontaneously and apart from any prompting from me or Crystal.
We can (and should) do a lot for our kids—love them, pray for them, teach them the Bible, correct them, have fun with them. But ultimately we can’t save them. The Father adopts, the Spirit convicts of sin, and Jesus conquers the grave on our behalf.
Thank you Jesus for dying on my son’s behalf.
If it had been up to me, there are many reasons why I wouldn’t have picked yesterday for Orin's baptism, including my melancholy mood. So his decision caught me off guard, despite the fact that only moments earlier during Pastor Mark’s sermon I had prayed that the Holy Spirit would speak to my kids as only he can. Well, God answered and demonstrated that his glory is greater than my attitude, and his plan is much better than mine.
Thank you Holy Spirit for sealing my son.
God chooses to act in our moments of weaknesses so that his grace will be that much more glorious. I love my kids dearly but I'm an imperfect father, fortunately Orin has a perfect heavenly Father whose faithful promises to love and adopt those that put their faith in Jesus come true over and over again.
Thank you Father for faithfully pursuing your children.
I’m so thankful for the ways God has protected Orin throughout the years. Some time ago Orin was talking to us about lies he was hearing from the enemy. With a shaky voice and a serious face, he said that he heard the lie, "You should hate God."
"What did you say back?’’ I asked.
His response brought tears to my eyes. "I said, 'I don't hate God. I love God!' And I just closed my eyes and tried to worship him."
In that moment my eyes were further opened to the destructive work that our enemy, Satan, wants to cause from a very early age. But even more profound was God's protection. He gave Orin the strength and words of truth to fight back through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God is mighty to save, and the "breadth and length and height and depth" of his love for his children is profound.
Pastor Jamie is Mars Hill's executive pastor. The above video is of Pastor Mike Wilkerson and him baptizing his son Orin at the Ballard church.
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As a dad, one of the most humbling and glorious things is to watch God pursue your kids (his kids, I should say). He is mighty to save, and I got to see this up close yesterday as my son Orin (6) initiated his baptism, spontaneously and apart from any prompting from me or Crystal.
We can (and should) do a lot for our kids—love them, pray for them, teach them the Bible, correct them, have fun with them. But ultimately we can’t save them. The Father adopts, the Spirit convicts of sin, and Jesus conquers the grave on our behalf.
Thank you Jesus for dying on my son’s behalf.
If it had been up to me, there are many reasons why I wouldn’t have picked yesterday for Orin's baptism, including my melancholy mood. So his decision caught me off guard, despite the fact that only moments earlier during Pastor Mark’s sermon I had prayed that the Holy Spirit would speak to my kids as only he can. Well, God answered and demonstrated that his glory is greater than my attitude, and his plan is much better than mine.
Thank you Holy Spirit for sealing my son.
God chooses to act in our moments of weaknesses so that his grace will be that much more glorious. I love my kids dearly but I'm an imperfect father, fortunately Orin has a perfect heavenly Father whose faithful promises to love and adopt those that put their faith in Jesus come true over and over again.
Thank you Father for faithfully pursuing your children.
I’m so thankful for the ways God has protected Orin throughout the years. Some time ago Orin was talking to us about lies he was hearing from the enemy. With a shaky voice and a serious face, he said that he heard the lie, "You should hate God."
"What did you say back?’’ I asked.
His response brought tears to my eyes. "I said, 'I don't hate God. I love God!' And I just closed my eyes and tried to worship him."
In that moment my eyes were further opened to the destructive work that our enemy, Satan, wants to cause from a very early age. But even more profound was God's protection. He gave Orin the strength and words of truth to fight back through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God is mighty to save, and the "breadth and length and height and depth" of his love for his children is profound.
Pastor Jamie is Mars Hill's executive pastor. The above video is of Pastor Mike Wilkerson and him baptizing his son Orin at the Ballard church.