Seeds of Faith

Last week, I was tasked with teaching a Bible story to children at a summer camp. For three days, I would recount the story of David, trying to illustrate through his life what it means to be a person “after God’s own heart.” Although grateful for this opportunity, I began to feel a weight on my shoulders as I gradually realized the responsibility that had been entrusted to me. 

Many of the children I would teach did not yet have a relationship with Jesus. Many of them did not grow up in Christian homes, and many did not go to church every week. Some had never heard of the David story, or of any Bible story. Some had flawed understandings of the gospel message and what it means to be redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Countless of them were missing out on the true life that salvation through Jesus brings. And it was my responsibility to share a story that would give these children the eternal life they were lacking. 

Through my carefully crafted words, engaging voice inflections, and dramatic dynamics, I had to capture the children’s interest. I had to speak in a way that made them understand their need for a Savior. I had to paint a picture in their minds of the punishment their sins deserve and the gift of eternal life that is only accessible through believing in Jesus. And, most importantly, I had to make no mistakes. 

Messing up the story could distract the children enough to be, eternally speaking, the difference between life and death. 

But as much as I practiced the story, as much as I prayed for a perfect presentation, as much as I dramatized my voice… I messed up. Several times, in fact. 

On one of the days, a gust of wind blew my Bible verse note cards off my stand right before I had to read them, forcing me to recite the verses from memory (which was an unsuccessful endeavor). Another time, I forgot to flip the pages of my visual and, after realizing, had to awkwardly turn several of them in a panicked frenzy. There were several moments when I forgot what to say, left out points, got distracted by my environment. It was, in my opinion, an absolute mess.

How could I ever bring children to Jesus after a performance like that?

It was the next day when the Lord compassionately reminded me of a particular verse found in I Corinthians 3:7, which says: “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

Only God gives the growth. 

It was my job to plant seeds of faith in the children's hearts by sharing the gospel. It was my job to water these seeds by challenging them to pursue a relationship with Jesus, answering their pressing questions, and serving as a godly example. But the Lord alone has the power to soften hearts, to reveal understanding, and to grow faith. It was not my public speaking and rhetoric abilities that would bring forth new Christ followers; in fact, my abilities were completely irrelevant. If it were God’s will for certain kids to accept Jesus as their personal Savior, it would happen regardless of how many mistakes my Bible story presentation contained. 

By God’s grace, it was His will for certain children to be saved that week. Six confessions of faith were made during those three days. 

And this I know for sure: these salvations were not because of my story; it was the Lord who worked in the hearts of these children to grow the seeds of faith planted by His Living Word.