by Jerry Mobley
Riley has a problem. He knows he has Jesus in his heart, but he doesn't know how to show others. Is it like a plastic heart-shaped container with candy? How does a bear open up his heart and show others the sweet candy that is Jesus?
He goes to Papa Bear and asks, "Papa, do you have Jesus in your heart?"
"Why, yes I do, Son," answers Papa Bear. "Why do you ask?"
"How do we show others that we have Jesus in our hearts. Can you tell me?"
Papa thinks a moment and then replies, "Why, yes I can.
I listen to the preacher at church and let God speak to me
through the words I hear. I show others that I have Jesus in
my heart by what I listen to. You have Jesus in your ears
when you have Jesus in your heart."
Riley thanks his father and then he finds his mother in
the kitchen. He asks, "Mama, do you have Jesus in your heart?"
"Why, yes I do, Riley," answers Mama Bear. "Why do you
ask?"
"How do we show others that we have Jesus in our hearts.
Can you tell me?"
Mama thinks a moment and then replies, "Why, yes I can.
When I talk with anyone, what I say shows that I have Jesus in my heart. You have Jesus in your words when you have Jesus in your heart."
Riley thanks his mother and goes next door where his
grandmother is working in the flower garden. He asks, "Grandma,
do you have Jesus in your heart?"
"Why, yes I do, Riley," answers Grandma Bear. "Why do you
ask?"
"How do we show others that we have Jesus in our hearts.
Can you tell me?"
Grandma thinks a moment and then replies, "Why, yes I can.
Right now, I'm picking a few flowers to take to Mrs. Beaker
who is sick in the hospital. The things I do for others show
that I have Jesus in my heart. You have Jesus in your hands
when you have Jesus in your heart."
Riley thanks his grandmother and goes inside where his
grandfather is reading the bible. He asks, "Grandpa, do you have
Jesus in your heart?"
"Why, yes I do, Riley," answers Grandpa Bear. "Why do you
ask?"
"How do we show others that we have Jesus in our hearts.
Can you tell me?"
Grandpa thinks a moment and then replies, "Why, yes I can.
Right now, I'm reading a scripture verse where Jesus says, 'Come,
follow me.' We show others we have Jesus in our hearts by
following the paths he wants us to travel. We have Jesus in our
feet when we have Jesus in our hearts."
Riley thinks a moment and then says, "If we have Jesus in
our hearts, what we say and what we do will show others.
Is that it, Grandpa?"
Grandpa replies, "Riley, you are a very wise bear."
********
Story inspired by Michelle's February 16, 2003 children's sermon.
..."'Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength
and with all your mind' and
'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Luke 10:27 NIV
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© Copyright
Jerry Mobley 2003
Riley's Heart Problem