Pride and Joy

Our friends love to flash grandchildren’s pictures. One fellow has his own version of flashing. He asks “Would you like to see pictures of my pride and joy?”  As we steady ourselves for more baby pictures, he displays pictures of the cleaning products,  Pride and Joy. He always gets a big laugh.

In Luke 18, the Message version of the Bible, Jesus calls children the kingdom’s pride and joy.

People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”(Luke 18:15-17, MSG)

Then he clearly expects us to accept God’s kingdom the same way, as little children. Little children completely trust their parents. They expect their parents to care for them, love them and do their very best for them.

Sadly some parents prove their children wrong, but God never does. We can trust him whole-heartedly for he never fails his children.

Are you one of his? It’s really quite a simple thing.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(JUST SAY IT OUT LOUD!)

Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,  (YOU KNOW ITS TRUE!) You will be saved. (YES YOU! SAVED!)

For it is with your heart (YES –YOURS!) that you believe and are justified,

It is with your mouth (JUST SAY IT!)  that you profess your faith and are saved. 

As Scripture says, “Anyone (THAT IS YOU!!); who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10: 9-11, NIV)

Prayer- Father God, we, together with you, welcome all who prayed this prayer today—into the family of God, and into fellowship with the best parent ever. You. Through Christ. Amen.