Nov 6, 2024
Win the Children to Christ!
Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 78:5-7
“Our Lord said, 'Feed my lambs,' as well as, 'Feed my sheep.' Though at first addressed to but one disciple, these words in the spirit of them are equally applicable to all disciples. They must remember the little ones, the young, the lambs of the flock, and seek their saving good always; and seek not earnestly only, but expectantly. Perhaps no kind of Christian effort has been more richly and abundantly blessed than labours of love among the young. Faithful ministers and teachers in every land have found it so; and the countless jewels they have been privileged to gather in Bible classes and Sabbath schools have been a joy unspeakable to them. In a peculiar degree, however, the duty referred to is binding on parents; hence the impressive counsels given in Old Testament times: 'These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talkof them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.'A few years ago, one earnestly said, 'Father, where is your child tonight?-Mother, where is your son? Are they on the way to glory? Have they been gathered into the fold of Christ? Are their names written in the Lamb's book of life. Depend upon it, so long as the church is living so much like the world, we cannot expect our children to be brought into the fold. Come,0 Lord, and wake us up to feel the worth of our children's souls! May they never bring our
grey hairs with sorrow to the grave, but may they become a blessing to the church and to the world.'”
Win the children to Christ! There is no greater privilege nor necessity than to win young ones to Jesus. I came to Christ as a young teenager, an 8th grader, in a non-Christian home and environment. That faith decision changed my life forever. Many Christians today can trace their faith roots to coming to Christ as children, even young children. This is indeed the role and place of parents. We are the vessels through whom God works so often to win the hearts of our children. That means we need to live God-honoring and Christ-centered lives, as models and examples to our kids. This is the first and greatest calling for Christian parents. Does your life reflect Jesus, especially to the children in your home or church?
A Puritan Prayer —
“O THOU THAT HEAREST PRAYER,
Teach me to pray.
I confess that in religious exercises
the language of my lips and the feelings of my heart
have not always agreed,
that I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue
a name never pronounced above
without reverence and humility,
that I have often desired things which would have injured me,
that I have depreciated some of my chief mercies,
that I have erred both on the side of my hopes
and also of my fears,
that I am unfit to choose for myself,
for it is not in me to direct my steps.
Let thy Spirit help my infirmities,
for I know not what to pray for as I ought.
Let him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask right things,
then I shall know thou hearest me.
May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,
but always refer them to thy fatherly goodness,
for thou knowest what I need before I ask;
May I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers,
or that I am rich unless rich toward thee,
or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.
May I seek first thy kingdom and its righteousness.
May I value things in relation to eternity.
May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude.
May I be poor, afflicted, despised and have thy blessing,
rather than be successful in enterprise,
or have more than my heart can wish,
or be admired by my fellow-men,
if thereby these things make me forget thee.
May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit,
and desire to depart from it.
And may I seek my happiness in thy favour, image, presence, service.”
Excerpt From
The Valley of Vision
Edited by Arthur Bennett