Heidelbergian Children's Catechism (age 8- 10 years)
Lord's Day 32
You know for yourself that you do wrong things all the time. My question is: are you actually doing some good things? What do you think? I know the answer: Yes, you do! When the Lord Jesus was on earth, he was willing to suffer on the cross. He did that also for you. Now you may ask God for forgiveness, for Jesus’ sake. And if you really mean lt, you will receive it. But that is not the only thing the Lord did for you. He also wanted to renew you from the inside. That is why He sent his Holy Spirit. What does “renewing you” mean? Does it mean you will look better? No, that is not it. You are changing from the inside. When you pray for this, you more and more look like Jesus. You want to do what the Lord Jesus likes, because you are glad and grateful. It does not matter where you are. At home, in school, during the holidays, or when you are playing. In your whole Iife it should be visible that you belong to Jesus. Wouldn’t that make you feel proud? You should watch out for that. Actually, you only received it. And by far not all you do is perfect. Thankfully God is willing to forgive the sins you continue to commit. The best thing to do is to show to the Lord that you love Him. It will make you happy, too. The more you like to do good things, the more you realize you are a believing child of God. Missionaries of ten travel far to preach the gospel to people who do not believe.
Not everyone needs to become a missionary. But you are a kind of missionary if people can see that you want to be obedient to God. Those children in your neighbourhood who never go to church may even envy you.
What we do should be good. The Catechism calls that “good works,’ Good works should belong to your life. Pray often that you may do good works. There are people who would rather commit sins. They like to sin. If they continue sinning and do not turn to the Lord, there is no place for them in the kingdom of God. But when you begin to do good works, God helps you and welcomes you.