Being a dad is a great thing and a scary thing all at the same time.
On Monday I was having a Bible study in the book of Mark with a couple of Wartburg guys and Joshua was there with us for the last few minutes. I have had this thought for longer than I've had Joshua but one of the guys asked what being a dad is like and I expressed to the guys that the scariest thing about being a father is that I can't give my boy salvation. I can lead the horse to the Living Water but I can't make him drink.
Think of the story of Jesus as told by Mark, especially think about Judas.
Judas saw Jesus calm a storm twice, saw Him drive a legion of demons out of a man, saw Him heal a woman who merely touched the hem of His clothes, saw Him raise a girl from the dead, saw Him feed 5,000 men with five loaves of bread and two fish with leftovers to spare, saw Jesus heal scores of people, saw Jesus feed 4,000 men with seven loaves of bread with leftovers to spare, saw Jesus restore sight to a blind people, heard Jesus preach and teach every day and watched Jesus live a perfect life. Yet with all this I can say with near certainty that Judas didn't get a saving faith. Judas saw all sorts of miracles, heard the best teaching and preaching ever and had the best loving example to follow and still didn't get salvation.
This is a sobering thought.
I could walk on water while leading Joshua to the Living Water and he still might not drink from the fount of every blessing. I could give the blind sight and he could still not see the Way, the Truth and the Life. I could preach and teach with all the skill in the world and he could still not believe the Word. I could live a perfect Christian life to follow and he could still choose the path of destruction.
Do I desire to live a good life in front of my boy? Do I crave the words to say to share the Good News with him? Do I want a demonstration of power to act as a sign for Joshua? Absolutely, but the greatest miracle I need isn't walking on water or raising someone from the dead; the great miracle I need is for God to open the eyes of my son's heart so that he may see the glory of Jesus Christ.
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:4-6
Joshua's name means "Yahweh is salvation." I can and will try to do my best to lead Joshua to the Living Water, to show him the light of the glory of God in Christ Jesus, but I can't do it. So every day I pray that God makes his name true for him. That is my bedtime prayer every day and often my prayer as I hold him. It's a short prayer but it's the only shot my boy has. I've prayed for many a miracle. I've prayed for the healing of a body, for the restoration of a marriage, for guidance, for wisdom, for strength; but the greatest and longest lasting miracle I pray for is the salvation of others, especially for my boy.
"God, I pray that you make Joshua's name true for him. Show him your inexpressible beauty and worth. Jesus don't let him waste any years living without you as his king, savior and friend."
I pray this for my boy and I hope that you'll pray for the awesome miracle of saving faith for someone you care about today.
