VIP Ministry Network

Sermon in a nutshell: Matthew 15:29-39

Miracles do happen! Look at the graduates! They are miracles in two senses! First, we feel that we have not done anything for them but they turned out great! One of our church members said to me when he introduced her daughter to me, “I do not know how this beautiful girl came from this ugly father?” I said to him, “I feel the same way when I see my daughter!” So, we are the members of “ugly fathers.” Is there anybody who wants to join us?

When my son was born, one of my friends sent me a card. It says, “Congratulations! I pray that your son should not look like you! Ha Ha Ha!” He and I were close friends and I laughed too much and my wife thought that I was going crazy. I replied to him: “That is exactly my prayer, too! I am a sinner and I have many weaknesses. I do hope that my son does not have any of them. I pray that he should be much better than me.” I believe that my prayer has been answered richly.

Do you all feel that way? Maybe some of us would say, “Well, I am much better than my sons. I wish that they are like me.” However, many of us feel that we are not good parents. We were not ready to be parents when they were born. When they were born, we felt like the disciples in the wilderness, saying, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” We felt that we had only “seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.” Our income was not that great and our maturity as parents was less than average. However, they were born and grew and grew! It is like the biblical description that all ate and were satisfied. They graduated from schools and started the new level of lives!  We feel like that we are collecting the leftovers full of seven baskets. Thanks be to God!

Secondly, our children are also not that great! I know that they look great to our eyes but frankly they are also imperfect human beings! I heard that Doug Emigh’s grand-daughter already mastered Bach and Mozart and graduated from a wonderful music school. By the way, she is just couple months old now. Babies always make the parents and grandparents liars. How soon did they start talking and walking? Yes, right! They are all geniuses. The Bible is more realistic: “Great crowds came to him, brining the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others.” Our children and grand-children, even though they are precious to us, they have their own weaknesses. Still they graduated from schools by God’s grace! The Bible simply says, “Jesus healed them.” The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” That is exactly our feeling today when we see our graduates. That is also our blessings today for the graduates! They are not perfect but God be with them and heal them on the way! They are growing older and matured by God’s Grace. May God make their lives abundant and plentiful!

1. When is the most precious moment in your memory with your children and grand children that you actually felt God’s Grace?
2. What is your wish and prayer for your children and grand children? Please, write that down here!