stephen R Harrison

JOY 365: Day 7

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. -3 John 1:4

I had the joy of visiting a family in their home today and talking about baptism with their youngest daughter. I was able to do this three years ago with their other daughter. What makes this week even better is I sat with another young man and talked about baptism, and today at lunch, I am talking with a dad about his son being baptized. This is one of the best parts as a pastor. These kids are making the decision to obey God and His Word in baptism, but not without their parents right there with them encouraging, shepherding, and discipling them. Thank God for parents helping their kids take next steps in the Lord. 

It reminded me of discipling my kids at that age. My wife and I had the joy of helping each of our kids come to faith, and then I got to baptize them. That was a huge joy of my life. The Lord reminded me of that today. As I had lunch with my oldest daughter yesterday, I listened as she talked about the Lord, mission trips, ministry, and marriage. I sat there with the joy of the Lord. As my middle daughter cut my hair for the first time, I was reminded of how she wants to use her stylist chair as a “gospel chair”, not a “gossip chair”. I sat there with the joy of the Lord. As my son read Scripture to me before bed, I was filled with the joy of the Lord. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4).

Are you discipling your kids? Can you help others with theirs?