Being the father of four boys and a minister in Christ is, at times, difficult. I coach teams when and where I can, I make it to every event I can, and I do all I can to be there for them. Sometimes, though, serving the church gets in the way of that. I do, however, make every effort to love each kid with the same amount of love and time, if it is at all possible for me to do so. I love each differently, as they all have different needs at different times, but I also do everything I can to make sure I am raising them up and training them in the ways of Christ. With this in mind, from the oldest to the youngest, I do everything I can to let them partner with me in the ministry. When I feel they are ready, I take them with me on calls, or even have them help in certain aspects of the ministry, and when I do, I try and employ the methods Jesus used.
When Jesus called His disciples, he didn’t put them to work right away, nor did he have them do tasks like Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid did with Daniel-San. He told them to “Come and See.” Jesus invited His disciples to come and get to know Him. We see John and Andrew do just this in John chapter 1. John and Andrew, who were disciples of John the Baptizer, followed Jesus, asking “Where are you staying?” Jesus invited them to “Come and see.” They stayed with Him for some hours, and while John does not share that conversation, what we do know is that Andrew was so convinced about who Jesus was, that He ran to His brother, Simon, and said “We’ve found the Messiah.”
In the same way, I want to invite my boys to come and meet Jesus. We talk about Him, encourage Bible readings, do family devotions (not as often as we like or should), pray together, and go to church together. Church is not an option. Yes, I know, there’s the prevailing mentality of “My kid won’t like me if I force him to go,” but I was a rebel who didn’t want to go and had to, and I knew where to return when I came to my senses. As a Parent, it is my duty to introduce my kids to Jesus while they’re in my care, and, as they grow, to raise them up and train them, even if that means struggle. As a friend and neighbor, enemy, and whatever capacity I may be to others, it is my duty to echo the words of Jesus “come and see,” so that as many as are willing may call on Him as Lord. I don’t have to have it all together to do this (I still don’t, and I’ve been in ministry since 2006, and a minister since 2011), heck, Peter, after he led the church needed to be corrected by Paul, I just have to be faithful to Christ and willing to answer His call. Come and See. Jesus is everything He promised He would be.
Romans 10:1-17 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
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