When Was the Last
Time You Cried for the
Lost or Prayed for New Legs?

By Chuck Baldwin

A couple of things have happened in the last two weeks that have challenged my commitment and passion for the lost. And both have a common theme… children. The first was a story shared by a speaker at our recent Leadership Network Christmas party in Dallas. The speaker told the story of how he and his son went grocery shopping to pick up a few items for supper. While at the store, they encountered a man with no legs. They politely said ‘hi’ and went on with their business.

Later that night, when they were praying before bed, his child asked his dad if he would pray for the man with no legs. He said, ‘That’s a great idea”. He said he then delivered a rather eloquent prayer for the man; asking God to bless him and help him deal with his physical disability. Then his son prayed and asked God to give the man new legs.

How humbled he was as he thought that the next time they saw this man in the grocery store, he would be hoping to see a man dealing with his problem; while his son was envisioning a man, not in a wheelchair, but walking around with perfectly fine legs.

Isn’t it funny how our kids view God? God isn’t just a God who can make us feel good or comfortable; but he is one who can perform the miraculous.

The other incident happened just a few days ago with my own eight year old son. My wife came in and told me he was crying right before bedtime. I asked her why, and she said that he was rather upset saying that there are ‘millions of children in the world who don’t know about Jesus’. ‘We have to tell them, mom’.

Wow. When was the last time I cried for the lost? When was the last time I even prayed seriously for the millions of people who need Christ? Or for my neighbor for that matter? Is it because I really don’t care, or because I don’t think Christ can do the miraculous? Those are humbling questions we all should ask.

Anyway I look at it; I’m humbled by the view of God that some of our children have. I wish I could approach God with that amount of innocence and expectance. I want to learn to do that more and more each day.

And just as important, I want to encourage that mindset with my children. I don’t want them to lose that child-like perspective as they grow up.

So… when was the last time you prayed for new legs or literally cried for the lost? And how will that change your day today?

Have a great week in ministry!