Raise your hand.

This past Sunday my family and I went to church, like we normally do each weekend. My little family and I (the Fantastic Four as I like to call them) had the opportunity to enjoy our annual Christmas performance. The title this year was, Christmas Around the World, and it portrayed how Christmas was celebrated in four different areas around the world. It was magnificent! The actors, the singers and the costumes were all so unique and colorful. Each person brought something special to the performance. ( I Corinthians 12:7 "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church." ) As I sat in my chair, taking in all of the singing and celebration, I thought to myself how perfect the moment was. I was surrounded by my family, enjoying fellowship and the celebration of the birth of our King Jesus. How could the moment get any better? My heart was full, and as I thought of how blessed I was to be sitting there with my family all together, a tear (or two) fell down my cheek. Our Pastor began speaking the Word a little bit. He began explaining how some of us can comprehend the fact that God loves all the "little children of the world", but can't consume the fact that He also loves us. That is...you and me. I sat in silence, listening and thanking God. Thanking Him that each of my children, my husband and I...know, without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus loves us. That He came down in the form of a tiny baby, lived His life walking this earth...only to be crucified on a pain filled cross...all for us. All for you. And then He rose from the grave, so that we may have a personal relationship with Him and everlasting life. I thanked Him knowing that each person in my little family unit knew Him as their personal savior. Normally when we attend service on Sunday morning, Mason is in his class upstairs learning about Jesus in Children's Ministry. On this morning, he sat on the left of me, enjoying the Christmas show. Each Sunday, at the close of the service, our pastor gives everyone in the church an opportunity to confess their faith in Christ. He asks those who do not know Jesus, if they would like to take Him into their hearts. He asks everyone to please close their eyes, and bow their heads. He then asks for those who want to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, to slip their hands up high where he can see them. I sat quietly with my family, as our pastor gave the invitation. When suddenly, Mason starts tugging on my arm and trying to lift it up. I open my eyes, and slowly turn my head towards him, trying not to cause a distraction in the silence filled sanctuary. When I turn my head, his hand is raised high and he whispers to me, "Mom, raise your hand. Hurry!" I pulled my arm down gently and said quietly, "Why? We aren't supposed to be raising our hands right now." With his hand still raised high, he whispers back, "Yes Mom. He said if you know Jesus as your Savior to raise your hand. Raise your hand Mom!" I giggled softly and slowly grabbed his hand, placing it on his lap. I put my arm around him and explained to him that the invitation was for those who did NOT know Christ as their Savior. I explained how we both had already asked Jesus into our heart, so there was no need to raise our hand at that moment. He smiled a cute little grin and put his head back down, closing his eyes in silence. As perfect as the moment was before...it had just gotten a thousand times better. My heart was full to the point of overflowing and I began to cry. Tears rolling down my face, in complete adoration for my Savior, and what He was doing within the hearts of my family. How sweet it was to see my son so eager to confess his faith and salvation in Christ, in the midst of a packed church. What an awesome blessing to know how proud he is to be a child of the Risen King!

Luke 12:8

And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God.

How proud are you?

Will you "raise your hand" today and confess your faith in Christ?

Jesus will do that for you. Look at what He has already done for you...

Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 5:6

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Psalm 116:8

For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.