It's So Good She Will Hear About Jesus
One does not have to look very closely to notice that my daughter, Kaara, does not (thankfully) look like me. For this reason total strangers make comments. By in large I don’t mind, it sort of comes with the territory of being an adoptive parent. Typically people are just curious so even the more potentially offensive questions (i.e. was she expensive?) don’t bother me. Some of the questions/ comments include:
1. Is your wife Asian?
2. Does your wife speak English? (by the same person that ask #1 after I told them no)
3. Is she (Kaara) adopted? (I love this one, especially when we are out as a family)
4. Is she one of those “Lost Daughters” (link)?
5. It’s so good that now she will be able to hear about Jesus.
I have been thinking allot about the last one lately. I used to always respond by saying, “Well, that diminishes God’s power; she could have heard the Gospel in China”. It is undeniable that the Chinese Government actively tries to suppress the Gospel in China but God is more powerful than the PRC. He may very well have been able to reach Kaara if she had not been adopted.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)
Here is where I have been convicted: What if it’s not the people who say, “It’s so good that now she will be able to hear about Jesus” that are diminishing God’s Power? What if it’s me? What if God’s plan of salvation goes beyond His Son coming, dieing on the cross for the sins of mankind, being buried, defeating death by rising on the third day and ascending to Heaven where He resides today preparing a place for us. While that is universally true, what if God’s plan for salvation for each of us goes beyond that to the personal level? One person may come forward during an alter call given at the end of a church service. I came to Christ as a child. What if God ordained that an unformed Chinese baby would be adopted by a Christian American family and would have the opportunity to hear the Gospel through them?
It is incredible to me that God would love us so much that he would individually tailor our Gospel experience. He is more than a form letter or infomercial god; He speaks to us personally.
1. Is your wife Asian?
2. Does your wife speak English? (by the same person that ask #1 after I told them no)
3. Is she (Kaara) adopted? (I love this one, especially when we are out as a family)
4. Is she one of those “Lost Daughters” (link)?
5. It’s so good that now she will be able to hear about Jesus.
I have been thinking allot about the last one lately. I used to always respond by saying, “Well, that diminishes God’s power; she could have heard the Gospel in China”. It is undeniable that the Chinese Government actively tries to suppress the Gospel in China but God is more powerful than the PRC. He may very well have been able to reach Kaara if she had not been adopted.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:15-16 (NIV)
Here is where I have been convicted: What if it’s not the people who say, “It’s so good that now she will be able to hear about Jesus” that are diminishing God’s Power? What if it’s me? What if God’s plan of salvation goes beyond His Son coming, dieing on the cross for the sins of mankind, being buried, defeating death by rising on the third day and ascending to Heaven where He resides today preparing a place for us. While that is universally true, what if God’s plan for salvation for each of us goes beyond that to the personal level? One person may come forward during an alter call given at the end of a church service. I came to Christ as a child. What if God ordained that an unformed Chinese baby would be adopted by a Christian American family and would have the opportunity to hear the Gospel through them?
It is incredible to me that God would love us so much that he would individually tailor our Gospel experience. He is more than a form letter or infomercial god; He speaks to us personally.
Labels: Christianity, Family
posted by P Keener @ 11:56 AM
2 Comments:
At 2:11 PM,
Jesse and Sarah said…
Keener,
It is amazing that God has formed gospel opportunities in the lives of so many people. On the other side though, it is difficult to understand why so many don't get those chances. So do they not get a chance because people fail to answer God's call to spread the gospel? I would say yes, but then again, I would not say that each individual was predestined to be with God. Although God may predestine opportunities to respond, He can't make that choice for us. The topic is too large for a blog thread. But thanks for stimulating some thoughts in my head. Good to see you out here in cyberspace.
Jesse Montes
At 4:05 PM,
P Keener said…
An excellent point Jesse. And one I agree with.
I hope that my deep desire to see Kaara submit her life to Christ does not come across that it is automatic (either because she was adopted by a “Christian” family or any other reason). She must still, of her own free will, submit to Christ. Which is true of all of us.
You said, "On the other side though, it is difficult to understand why so many don't get those chances." I have been giving allot of thought to this lately. Frankly your right; this is far to big a topic for a single thread. Also, it may be a topic we don't fully understand until we can study it from the perspective of Heaven.
Thanks for the comment.
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