Asking jesus

Tonight Zach was having troubles- he threw water on Liza while he was in the bath then threw a real fit when she said he lost his books as a consequence. Then he stomped downstairs and made faces at her as he came down. When he got to me in the living room where I was holding Xander and trying to help him to go to sleep, he started messing with the baby and waking him up. I gave him a talking to and told him I was disappointed. He looked at me and his eyes got red and a little teary and he said, "Daddy, I try to listen and obey, but I just can't." I asked him if he knew why that was and he said no. I told him that the problem is sin and that all of us are sinful and can't overcome that no matter how hard we try. That's why we need Jesus who came to earth and lived a perfect life. He was the only one who could listen and obey and he was the only one who deserved life but he gave it up for us so we could have life when we don't deserve it. I told him that when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, He gives us the ability to follow God and live like he wants us to.

Zach listened to all of this and said, "Is that when he lives in your heart?" "Yes" was my reply. I asked him if he had heard others talk about that. He said yes then he said, "But Daddy, I want Jesus to come in to my heart." I said, "Well, you just have to ask him." And he said, "OK- 'Jesus, will you please come in to my heart and take the punishment for me?" I said, "and make me the kind of person you want me to be." He said, "Can you say that for me?" I said, "No, this is not my heart we are talking about." So he prayed and asked God to make him the kind of person God wants him to be and thanked him for coming in to his heart. Jesus said it takes faith the size of a mustard seed- and I'm pretty sure that is what he has. I know he is too young to understand much of the theology, but I'm also pretty sure that he understands why he needs Jesus and placed that little bit of faith in him. Later, when he is older, I'll take him back here to this page so he can see what he said. I'm sure there will be times later in life where he will renew that commitment, but I believe that the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in this little boy and he is the latest one to experience the best adoption we can have- in to God's family.