Miss Ames, Becky’s Sabbath school teacher, had told the children in her class about Jesus. She showed them a picture of Jesus knocking at a door. The door didn’t have a latch or doorknob on the outside. That meant it had to be opened from the inside by the people who lived in the house.
Miss Ames told the children Jesus knocks at their heart’s door in the same way. Then she said that no matter how young they were, they could invite Jesus to come and live in their hearts.
Many of the boys and girls did this. Becky asked Jesus to come into her heart, too.
Yet, because she was so very young, she didn’t quite understand how this could be.
She decided she would ask Daddy. He always explained things so well.
“So that’s what has been troubling you,” Daddy said as he lifted Becky into his lap. “Well, let’s think of it this way. Do you remember when Aunt Grace and Uncle Tom adopted little Tommy?”
Becky nodded.
“Do you remember when we visited them a few months later?”
Becky nodded again.
“One of the first things Aunt Grace said was, ‘We don’t know what we would do without him. He has certainly made a big place for himself in our hearts.’ Now that didn’t mean that Timmy had crawled inside of Aunt Grace’s heart, did it?”
Becky shook her head. She was beginning to understand.
“Then what do you think it meant?”
Becky thought for a while. Then she said, “I think it meant that they loved him a whole lot.”
“That’s right,” Daddy said. “Now this question, do I have a place in your heart, Becky?”
Becky snuggled close to her Daddy.
“You know you do,” she said. Then looking at him slyly, she asked, “And do I have a place in your heart, Daddy?”
“You know you do,” Daddy told her. “You and the Lord Jesus, too.”
Have you ever wondered what it meant to give your heart to Jesus? Have you wondered what it meant to have Him come into your heart? Now you know it really means that you love Him very much.
When Jesus comes into your life, He has an important place in your heart.
“That Christ may live in your hearts by faith [believing love].” Ephesians 3:17
“God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts.” Galatians 4:6
Dear Father above, once again we thank You for sending Your Son to live in our hearts. Keep our hearts clean and pure for Him. In His name we pray. Amen.
Happy Moments With God, Margaret J. Anderson, ©1962, 13, 14