My Blind Baby Girl
My baby girl is blind. She’s seven months old, cuter than a basketful of puppies, and completely blind. Don’t get me wrong, her eyes work just fine. She can see her dad’s ugly mug with no problem. But she’s spiritually blind. She doesn’t know Jesus yet, and people that don’t know Jesus don’t have spiritual eyes. It’s hard, but it’s true. Listen to John 3:3 -
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Unless someone is born again they can’t even see the kingdom of God. Complete and total spiritual blindness.
This verse compels me to pray passionately for my little girl. I pray that God will invade her life at a young age and open her eyes to the glories of Christ. I pray that God will breathe spiritual life into her heart. I can teach her about Jesus, but I can’t make her love Jesus. I can tell her about heaven, but I can’t get her into heaven. Only God can do this.
This truth would be terrifying if not for the sweet words found just a few verses later:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
God loves Charis. Deeply, passionately. He desires that she would place saving faith in Christ. These truths put faith into my prayers. Yes she’s spiritually blind. Yeah, she is dead in her sins. But she’s got a dad who loves her and prays for her, and she’s got a God who loves her even more. My hope is not in my ability to save Charis. My hope is in my great, loving God who brings dead people to life.
Today, as you pray for your children, pray that God would give them spiritual eyes. As you pray for your unbelieving friends, ask God to breathe life into them. We can’t save anyone, but we serve a God who sent his son to save sinners. That’s our hope.
Posted in Salvation
May 1st, 2008 at 10:46 am
It is hard as you say, but it is true. I’ve often looked at my son (1) and thought of his blindness to the kingdom!
It is something that breaks my heart in prayer - the most important thing is that our children are born again!
More important than career choice, education etc.
I often consider Jesus words when He said “suffer little children to come unto me, and do not hinder them…” and pray that Christ draw Jacob to Himself and nothing hinders him from coming to Him - No addiction, no sin,not me, not any other person; nothing!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Boaly - I can relate. I want my prayers for Charis to be consistent and passionate. I’m trust that God is able to do great things in my little girl!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Thanks for sharing about this conviction, Stephen. I don’t have any children myself, but I certainly can feel the same thoughts about my co-workers and my unsaved family members. In fact, I think we often forget to pray for those not so close to us. We should want God to open more spiritual eyes so his glory would be shown among all the nations.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Wow, this is so weird. (In an amazing way, of course.) I go to a Bible Study every Thursday night and the speaker’s wife said, word for word, “I love my husband, but he’s not gonna get me into Heaven. Jesus is gonna get me into Heaven.” So, when I read this post, it struck a chord with me and made me think about that again. God is the only way we can get into Heaven, so we must do what you said and pray that everyone on this earth will come to know Him and love Him as we should.
-Bee-
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
Matt - I agree with you. I want to feel a sense of urgency when praying for my friends that don’t know Jesus. I want to plead that God would open their eyes to the gospel.
Bee - Right on to that…