Years ago, I was blessed to be a part of a new outreach program for my home church…a bus ministry. Our pastor and many church members had worked hard to start this program in hopes of bringing more people to the Lord. Our aim was to get the kids involved which in turn would influence the parents to come as well. I joined the effort by volunteering to visit every Saturday morning and help round up riders.
On one of these Saturdays, I met a young girl named, Ester. She was nine years old, with an eager smile and a personality that made her appear much older. Ester and some other children were playing outside when we arrived at the small mobile home park. She left her playmates and asked us politely if she could help us. We explained to her why we were there and her eyes got big.
“Can I ride your bus and go to your church?” she asked.
“Sure, you can,” we told her, but we need to talk to your parents first and make sure it’s okay with them.” She giggled with excitement and quickly took us inside to meet her mother.
Ester could hardly contain her excitement while we explained our mission to her mom, and squealed with delight when she agreed that we could pick her and her sister up the next day. She thanked us profusely for coming and danced around the room.
The two girls became our most faithful riders and sat beside my sister and me in church each Sunday morning.
One Sunday, Ester arrived and I could tell she was excited as she sat down beside me. “I want to be saved today,” she said. “Should I go tell the preacher?”
The worship service was about to start so I told her, “Wait till the end of the service and when the invitation starts you can go down and tell him.”
“In front of everybody?” Her eyes got big.
I explained why we make a public profession of our faith, and she was fine with it. I asked her a few questions to make sure she understood the importance of accepting Jesus as her Savior and was satisfied that she did. I told her how happy I was for her. It was plain she had made the decision, and couldn’t wait to tell the Pastor. She sat restlessly through the song service, asking after each one, “Can I go now?”
As soon as the invitation hymn started, Ester looked at me and I nodded. She stepped out of the pew and flew down the isle to profess her faith in the One who gave His life that she might be saved!
What a lesson we all can learn from this little child and others like her. After all, the Bible says in Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Children are easy to please, full of faith and teachable. They are open to the idea that the one who created them loves them unconditionally and believe that with Him all things are possible. All these are traits we must have in order to enter His kingdom. Push away the doubts and fears of the what-ifs and place your trust in Jesus…the only one who is able to save us from this world of sin.
Make your decision today, as Ester did, and make your profession of faith public. Jesus said in Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
