The past two Sunday’s, two middle school boys have faithfully been coming to Sunday school and church. Scott has recruited them to help with the garden so they are constantly over at the Moore’s throughout the week. Today during Sunday school, the boys were talking about what it really means to be a Christian. I tried my best to explain to them, however they still seemed a little confused. There was one boy in particular who was intrigued the most. He kept saying things like, “But I still cuss” my reply was “Man, I do too”. It was a moment of honesty and openness as I tried to explain to them that no one is perfect. Even though I choose to follow Christ, I AM STILL I SINNER. I am not perfect. I mess up all the time. I kindly explained to them that they would continue to mess up as well, but the beautiful thing about it is that we don’t have to pay the price for our "mess ups”. Our gracious, loving and heavenly Father sent his only son, Jesus, to pay that price for us. And since Jesus conquered death and rose from the grave we are made perfect and sinless in the eyes of the Father. Jesus absorbs ALL of our sins. This doesn’t mean we still get to “purposefully” mess up, God still calls us to be Christ-like and follow His commandments. The difference is that he graciously and mercifully forgives us when we do mess up. It is a beautiful thing. I am so thankful for the cross and the price that Jesus paid for me. It moves me to worship Him and forever glorify his name. 

I don’t know if any of what I said to the boys sunk in, but I pray that it at least planted a seed. I pray that they would continue to think and ask questions about what it means to be a Christian. Those boys mean the world to me, and I am so thankful that God is allowing me to be a part of their lives. I pray that one day I get to witness the life changing moment when they choose to follow Jesus. What an exciting day that will be!

I am thankful for my Sunday school kids. They have taught me that I don't have to have an extravagant and perfect lesson every Sunday. The Lord can use an ordinary teaching and my unprepared lessons to initiate conversation like these. Thank you Lord for these precious souls!

"And at that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:1-4