This is my kids at lunch today. They asked if they could get their fold up chairs out of the basement and have a picnic outside. They are also eating peanutbutter-and-jelly sandwiches with brussel sprouts. That’s gotta be the most incongruous meal ever.
I just love how they love hanging out with each other and making up their own little games and adventures. *sigh* I could eat them with a spoon.
And now the Bible story…
On the way home from Trader Joe’s/Target/WalMart today we were discussing Asa’s birthday party coming up in September. This led us to me telling the kids Asa’s birth story. (It was kinda exciting if you wanna read it!) Then I told them that we hadn’t picked Asa’s middle name until after he was born. I remember writing a list of possible names on some of the paperwork from the hospital!
So, I told them the story of the man who’s name we finally did choose as Asa’s middle: Nathanael. At the beginning of Jesus’ earthy ministry, he is going around recruiting his disciples. He talks to Phillip who gets so excited he runs to his friend Nathanael and says, “We found him! The one the prophets told us about! His name is Jesus from Nazareth!”
Nathanael replies, “Nazareth? What good can come from Nazareth?”
Phillip tells Nathanael to come and see for himself. So Nathanael does. The second he sees Nathanael Jesus says, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” (John 1:47) Nathanael is shocked, “How do you know me?”
I can picture Jesus laughing here, the way a grown-up laughs at the naivete of a child, “I saw you under the fig tree before Phillip even came to you.” he tells Nathanael.
This impresses Nathanael so much he immediately exclaims, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” Again Jesus laughs (in my imagination) and says, “You believe I’m the Son of God just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? Brother, you better hang on, because you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” (<–clearly my translation)
I love this conversation with Nathanael. It’s not a big teachable moment. There’s no sermon-on-the-mount sound bytes. Yet, this first conversation is recorded for a reason.
I think when Jesus said Nathanael was a man of “complete integrity” (or “without guile” some versions say) what he meant (and no, I’m not trying to put words in Jesus’ mouth, it’s just how I understand it) was that Nathanael was a guy who meant what he said and said what he meant. He did what he said and didn’t fool around.
He scoffed at Nazareth, questioned Jesus’ compliment but once Jesus says, “I saw you” Nathanael (figuratively) drops to his knees to recognize Jesus’ true identity.
And this is what I want for my son. I want him to be a man who is full of integrity, open with his heart, his mind and actions. A man who would hear Jesus’ words and immediately bow his knee to what was spoken.
And now the book…
I got excited about Asa’s name all over again after reading Nathanael’s story today. It also reminded me of the book I just finished, Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson. It’s a little 100-page mini book with some really practical and very inspiring truths about prayer for your kids.
This is one reason my husband and I were so insistent on good names for our kids. Not because of how they sounded, but what they meant. I want my kids’ names to be a prayer on my lips. And today, I’m excited to pray that my son would be a man of complete integrity who believes in Jesus’ words immediately!
Do you have a special verse you pray for your kids?
The Diaper Diaries says
That book is such an interesting premise to me because we have been doing that since our children have been born.
When they are born we pick a scripture that is a life verse and pray it over them for a year. My mom also makes it into this gorgeous scripture name.
Then each year on their birthday we pick a new scripture for the year. We think about what characteristics we want for them that year, what they are struggling with, or as they get older even what kinds of things they want in their prayer.
Then we pray that scripture over them every night. My kids learn it and pray along. Even my 2 yo can recite parts of his verse after 9 mos of hearing it. (he loves to say STRONG and COURAGEOUS!!)
We have been doing this since each of my kids was born so my oldest is on her 8th verse.
The best part of this all is that despite me saying “we” throughout this comment, this has been 100% led by my husband which makes me so happy because I want my kids to see my husband leading spiritually and have that bar set when my girls look for a husband and my son becomes a dad someday.
It is by far my favorite “spiritual” thing we do in our family and a tradition I hope gets passed down to my grandchildren.
ohAmanda says
I love this, Jill! In the book he talks about how Scripture prayers are prophecies over your children. Isn’t that cool?! It makes our prayers seem less hope-this-works and more of partnering w/God.
Once I forgot to say Asa’s verse while I was praying and he said, “Say the part where God fights for me.” LOVE.
a
Our Family for His Glory says
That book sounds so, so good! Thanks for sharing it! Jessica
ohAmanda says
It’s only $2.99 paperback or $1.99 on kindle. Totally worth it!
a
Kelly says
Great post! My boys are Evan Zachary, Benjamin Michael & our newest little guy is Samuel James. Our bedtime reading has been going through 1 & 2 Samuel… it all began when we were talking about our new baby’s name. We’ve also recently made signs (in homeschool) of the meanings of the boys names! I need to assoc this into my prayer life more! Thanks for the book rec… I’m going to check that out!
ohAmanda says
I love it! I want to get some signs made of my kids’ names w/their scriptures.
a
Susan says
Such a fun post! thank you! Our son has Nathaniel as his middle name and I’m so excited to share this story with him 🙂
ohAmanda says
Yay for another Nathanael! 🙂
a