Lately my nine-year-old stepson Rivers has started going with us to big church more and more and it’s been so fun to watch him in that environment.
He has a big heart, and he loves to worship. He also pays super close attention to the message, sometimes even taking notes. But my favorite thing he does – every single week – is at the end of the message. Our pastor typically ends most services with an opportunity for people to accept Christ as their savior. And without fail – I mean every single time – Rivers raises his hand. It’s a beautiful thing to watch his little heart embrace Jesus over and over and over again. At every opportunity, if someone is asking him if he chooses Jesus, his immediate answer, without hesitation, is YES!
In Matthew 18:3 Jesus challenges us to take our cues from the kids – “And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” I think Rivers is on to something and it’s inspired me to think about three key ways we can all be raising our hand for Jesus.
The first way we can raise our hand is to simply choose Jesus every single day. The bible is clear that once we accept Christ our salvation is secure in him, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to make a conscious and intentional effort to keep choosing him. Philippians 2:12 challenges us to ‘work out our salvation with fear and trembling’ and I think this is part of that process. It is the discipline of saying no matter what is going on, no matter how I feel, no matter what good or bad things are going on – I – choose – Jesus!
The second way we can raise and open our hands is to receive all that God has for us. First Corinthians 2:12 says that “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” God has so much to give us, and our receiving this is an ongoing, daily, sometimes even moment by moment process. We must raise our hands daily to say to God I want what you have for me, and I am submitting to you, making myself open to receive it.
The third way we can raise our hand is to say YES when he calls us. In Isaiah 6:8, when God is looking for someone to step up, Isaiah raises his hand and says YES, “here I am, send me.” Every day we have opportunities to say YES to God. Yes I will serve my family. Yes I will comfort a friend. Yes I will share with someone in need. Yes I will speak words of life and encouragement to those around me. Yes I will go and make a difference!
So I hope – like me – you will be inspired by Rivers, and the next time God has something for you, or something for you to do, you will raise your hand, be open to what he has for you, and you will say YES!