If you have spent anytime around kids or grew up in a large
family, you understand the competitive nature that can exist between siblings
and peers. I have heard my kids say many times, “I can do that too!” You can be
confident that if you praise one kid, there is bound to be a jealous kid who
desires the same attention and praise.
Kids are experiencing a time in their life where they are
told what to do or not to do; they are chomping at the bit waiting to prove
that they can do what big kids do! Kids feel pressure of gaining the approval
of their parents and others. This same pressure can influence their
understanding of how they can be accepted by God. When it comes to the gospel,
kids must understand that they need the help of Jesus. Kids must understand
that the statement, “I can do that too!” will never apply to the work of
Christ.
Sharing the gospel to kids must emphasize crying out to
Jesus for HELP! Kids must understand that gaining the approval of parents and
God are entirely two separate things.
I was very diligent this week in explaining the gospel to my
VBS class. The kids understood exactly what Jesus did before, during, and after
the cross. But the one thing that I had to reinforce the most that continued to
go unnoticed is their need to cry out to Jesus for help. I asked the kids how
they could be accepted by God immediately after explaining the gospel, and
their answers included personal obedience. The kids were acknowledging that
Jesus did something special but continued to trust in their own effort to gain
approval with God.
The kids did not realize the absurdity and pointlessness of Jesus
dying on the cross if salvation could be gained by personal obedience.
I am happy that the kids shared their thoughts and that
I had the opportunity to correct them with the true gospel. Many seeds were
planted this week during VBS. The kids left knowing that they cannot gain God’s
approval on their own. I emphasized over and over again the need to repent and
turn to Jesus as their all in all, their only hope.
I could have made the mistake in believing that the kids
were ready to be saved because they understood what Jesus did. But the kids
were not ready and will never be saved until they understand and are willing to
let go and cry out “I can’t but you can!”
Kids get upset when they realize they can’t do something, but
they must face the same humbling reality that all men and women must face in
order to gain the approval of God through Christ.
[Rom 3:23-24 KJV] “For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus”
By Todd Lockwood
