Do you go to school? Some children go to school to learn their lessons, and some children have school at home to learn their lessons.
When Dean was five years old, he started public school for the first time. He liked playing with the other children, singing songs and doing all the fun things that boys and girls do in kindergarten. But when he was six years old and started first grade, it was not so much fun. He had a hard time sitting still, and he had a hard time learning to read.
Dean’s mother decided to teach him at home. She asked Dean’s grandmother if she would help out too. Grandma liked to teach, and she loved Dean very much, so she said, “Yes, I would like to help.”
Dean did much better at home, especially at math. But each day before they started math and the other regular school lessons, Grandma would read some verses from God’s Word, the Bible, and pray. She told Dean that the Bible says, “All have sinned” (Romans 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). Then she explained that the Lord Jesus died on the cross and took the punishment for the sins of every person who would put their trust in Him as their Saviour. Those people would not be punished for their sins, but would someday be in heaven with Jesus.
Dean said to Grandma, “My mom and dad say I am a good boy.”
Grandma replied, “I know you try to be good, but sometimes we do things that we shouldn’t, and that is sin. We need to tell God that we have sinned and let the Lord Jesus wash away our sins in His blood.”
Grandma also taught him verses from the Bible. He learned John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16): “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Another one he learned was Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31): “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” And then there was Psalm 2315Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. (Psalm 25:15), which took a little longer to learn since it has six verses.
Six months later, on March 8, Grandma was going to pray with Dean and she asked, “Is there anything that you would like to pray about?” She thought that he might want to pray for a friend who was sick, as he had a few days before.
Dean said, “Yes.”
Grandma waited for him to tell her what he wanted to pray for, and when he didn’t say anything more, she said, “Oh, would you like to pray?”
Dean said, “Yes.” And then he prayed, “Dear God, thank you for sending the Lord Jesus to die on the cross. Please wash away my sins.”
Grandma’s eyes opened wide, and she thought, This is a special day! She was so happy, and the Lord Jesus was happy too. The Bible tells us, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10)). Repent means to change your mind about thinking you are good and to believe God when He says you are a sinner. That is exactly what Dean did, and he was saved!
Dean’s dad was upstairs, and Grandma said, “Now that you are saved, would you like to go tell your dad? He would be really glad to hear that news!”
Dean was a little shy to tell anyone, but he went upstairs and told his dad, and when his mom came home, he told her too. They were so happy to hear Dean’s good news!
We hope that if you haven’t thanked God for sending the Lord Jesus down to this world to die for sinners, you will do so today and let the Lord Jesus save you, just as simply as Dean did.
ML-09/18/2005