Not having my own children, I love spending time with other people’s kids. My closest friends know this and send me pictures of their kids or grandkids and tell me stories about the adorable things they do.
A few weeks ago, one of my friends who babysits her grandchildren told me about a new thing her grandchild is doing. The little one is very friendly, meeting people everywhere they go. Lately, he’s started inviting his friends (old and new) to come and play at Grandma’s house.
As my friend told me this story, she said she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. On the one hand, it’s okay to invite his little friends from church to come and play with him. However, she had to admit that she cringed when he asked someone she didn’t even know. (She thinks they need to talk about the difference between friends and strangers, LOL).
But how cute is that?
He meets people and invites them to the most fun, safest, most incredible place he knows: Grandma’s house!!! Being a pre-schooler, he wants everyone to enjoy the place as much as he does!!
Over the next few days, I thought about this adorable story and wondered, “When do we lose that tenacity?”
When do we grow up and lose our desire to invite people to the best place we know: our Heavenly Father’s House?
It reminds me of the Audio Adrenaline song from the early 2000s called “Big, Big House” and its lyrics, “Come and go with me to my Father’s house…”
And I realized that even as adults, God wants us to imitate my friend’s grandchild and invite everyone not to Grandma’s house but to God’s house. As sons and daughters of God, it should be just as natural and normal to tell others about Jesus, His gift of salvation, and the offer to join His family as it is for this little one to invite others for playdates.
There should be no embarrassment, fear, or intimidation…we’re just telling people about the best things in our life…our Heavenly Father.
We’re sharing what He’s done in our lives and how He can do the same for them.
Just like this little child is free from inhibitions or the fear of rejection, we need to become like little children in this area and focus on the Great Commission of spreading the Gospel.
Yes, some will reject us…but aren’t a thousand rejections worth it if one person takes us up on our invitation to enter the kingdom?
It’s something to think about.
I hope that the next time the opportunity arises to share your testimony or to tell someone about Jesus, you’ll remember this little guy and think, “If he can do it, so can I.”
Then invite someone to come and go with you to your Heavenly Father’s house.
Adessa Holden is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God specializing in Women's Ministry. Together with her brother, Jamie, they manage 4One Ministries and travel the East Coast speaking, holding conferences, and producing Men's and Women's resources that provide practical Biblical teaching for everyday life.
When asked about herself, she'll tell you "I'm a women's minister, a sister, and a daughter. I love to laugh and spend time with people. My favorite things are chocolate, the ocean, sandals and white capris, anything purple, summertime and riding in the car listening to music. It is my absolute honor and privilege to serve Jesus and women through this ministry."
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