Earthly Awards Lead to Heavenly Rewards
The day finally came that Jackson
had earned his 25 points to receive
his first award. Rather than giving
out awards at the end of the day,
the school coordinator decided to
hand them out prior to the listening
time. Jackson was pleased to
receive a small leather bracelet with
5 colored beads on it and as
he took it out of the package and looked it over, he asked his listener what each of the
beads meant, as he knew each color represented something. Because the other two
children who were usually in the listening group had not come to class that day, the listener
knew she had time to sit with Jackson and explain the beads, so she went through the
meaning of each color one by one.
Jackson* is a 3rd grader who attends Released Time in central Franklin County. He
began as a new student back when school started in the fall and had been
earning points through scripture memorization. Each time awards day came, Jackson
noticed some of the other children receiving award prizes and he asked when he
would get one. Awards were usually distributed at the end of the Released Time day.
His listener explained that his first award would come when he earned 25 points.
began as a new student back when school started in the fall and had been
earning points through scripture memorization. Each time awards day came, Jackson
noticed some of the other children receiving award prizes and he asked when he
would get one. Awards were usually distributed at the end of the Released Time day.
His listener explained that his first award would come when he earned 25 points.
had earned his 25 points to receive
his first award. Rather than giving
out awards at the end of the day,
the school coordinator decided to
hand them out prior to the listening
time. Jackson was pleased to
receive a small leather bracelet with
5 colored beads on it and as
he took it out of the package and looked it over, he asked his listener what each of the
beads meant, as he knew each color represented something. Because the other two
children who were usually in the listening group had not come to class that day, the listener
knew she had time to sit with Jackson and explain the beads, so she went through the
meaning of each color one by one.
Though he had heard the gospel message presented before, this time the message
seemed to click in his mind as Jackson listened to her explain what the gold, black,
red, white and green beads each represented: Gold for heaven, Black for our sin,
Red for the blood of Christ shed for us, White for salvation that washes away our sin,
and Green for growth in our faith. At that point, Jackson asked his listener if they could
pray and ask Jesus to come into his heart.
seemed to click in his mind as Jackson listened to her explain what the gold, black,
red, white and green beads each represented: Gold for heaven, Black for our sin,
Red for the blood of Christ shed for us, White for salvation that washes away our sin,
and Green for growth in our faith. At that point, Jackson asked his listener if they could
pray and ask Jesus to come into his heart.
God had a clear plan for Jackson that day. What if awards had been given out at the end
of class? Then Jackson never would have had the opportunity to ask what the color of
the beads meant. What if the other children in the listening group had been there?
The listener would not have had the time to explain the beads to Jackson. Because all the
circumstances aligned for the conversation over the bracelet, Jackson heard the gospel
message at a time when his heart was ready to receive it. God’s timing is always perfect.
of class? Then Jackson never would have had the opportunity to ask what the color of
the beads meant. What if the other children in the listening group had been there?
The listener would not have had the time to explain the beads to Jackson. Because all the
circumstances aligned for the conversation over the bracelet, Jackson heard the gospel
message at a time when his heart was ready to receive it. God’s timing is always perfect.
*Name has been changed.
No comments:
Post a Comment