Saturday, December 20, 2014
TEXT: LUKE 18:9-17
Key Verse: “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them” (Luke 18:15).
A young mother once asked a Christian counsellor, “When should I start training my child for Christ?” “How old is he?” asked the counsellor. “Five”, she replied. The counsellor said to her: “Sister, hurry, you have already lost five years”. How marvellous it would be if all parents saw the need to present their children early to Christ; it will render unnecessary the need for iron-hand training few years later.
In verse 15 of our text, we see some wise parents bring their children to the Saviour to touch and to bless them. What a splendid decision that was to introduce the child to Christ very early in life. Surprisingly, however, the disciples would not allow the children to come. They probably thought children are not called, they are too young to need a Saviour, but the Saviour interposed by saying, “Let the children come to me and do not keep them away…” (verse 16). It is the desire of Christ that little children should be brought to Him and every Christian parent should contend against and overcome those elements that seek to influence the child’s heart in the opposite way. The heart of a child is delicate and vulnerable in this wild and wicked world. If Christ be not his Friend, he has no friend that can aid, protect and keep him from the snares of the devil.
The greater majority of children in all places today grow up into adolescence and young adulthood without Christ. No wonder crime rate, immorality and rebellion remain unabated all over the place. Only a few children are put under the care of the Saviour by serious-minded believing parents.
Children who have been led to Christ early in life, who became genuinely converted and have remained devoted to God usually grow up to be mightily used of Him. The parents of Timothy in the New Testament, and those of Matthew Henry, Jonathan Edwards and many others cannot all be wrong. Lead your children to make a definite decision for Christ early.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Jesus loves little children; present yours to Him.
Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclmhq.org/
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