Calling All Children of God

Tonight, I am moving through thoughts of tomorrow's ninth-grade confirmation retreat.  15-year olds, full of life yet tossed about in the current of this uncertain time and this tumultuous time of their lives, will be finally formulating a public statement of faith as they prepare to affirm their baptisms.  Their baptisms were a means for God to convey His grace to them that allows for a metamorphosis in them.  Their baptisms are earth-moving moments of God's grace breaking in to their lives and worlds that opens the way to their family status with God.  Their baptisms show the goodness of God, the love that pours out toward our world and even us, in all our tumultuous experiences of life, most vividly in Jesus Christ.  He is the Lord of our lives, yet also our brother, our Savior, our place in the family of God.

Do these 15-year olds know this after three years of confirmation, ten years of Sunday school, fifteen years of life?  Yes and no.  Should we, as parents and adults, fear for their futures, as we often hear, thinking that their world will challenge them or be more dangerous than our world has challenged or been a danger to us?  No.  Will they find their hope in our all-sufficient, all-encompassing God and Father, Savior and Christ, enlightener and Holy Spirit?  Our faith says Yes.  We know God who pursues us and does not wait for us.  Through Jesus, God breaks in to the realm in which we live, moving among us and knowing us so that we can sense our close God as He reaches out to grasp us and love us.  In his letter to the Corinthian Christians in first century Greece, the Apostle Paul put it this way:  "For in (Jesus) every one of God's promises is a 'Yes.'  For this reason it is through him that we say the 'Amen,' to the glory of God."


We affirm these young people's baptisms-  just as they will in two weeks at their Confirmations-  and cry out to God, "Amen! Lord.  Your promises toward all of us are your "Yes!"  We see it so clearly in Jesus.  We see your love pouring out through him toward us.  Move in  our children.  Let the seeds of faith that have been planted take root, find good soil, grow and grow and grow  and, finally, bear good fruit for you, for us, for them.  We know these children are in your hands and your grace is sufficient for them.  Let it be so!"

Grace to you, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.  Thank you for taking time to read this blog.  My prayer is that some spark of light might be shining through these thoughts and words and that they are a witness to the living Christ and His great grace for our lives and world.  Be carried, yourself, in the mighty waters of God's goodness and loving grace that holds this world and nurtures us in our journeys.