Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Luke 18:16 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
LET THE CHILDREN DECIDE?
Some parents express the view: "I don't think it's a good idea to teach children about religion when they're young. Why not let them grow up and decide for themselves what to believe." They don't realize this makes as much sense as a dad taking his 5-year-old son to the grocery store and saying: "Son, you decide what to put in the grocery cart." What would the little tyke do? Of course, he'd make a beeline for the candy aisle.
Parents who love their children will endeavor to help them make wise choices on what to eat. They do this because they care about their children. They want them to grow up with healthy bodies. So also in matters of faith, loving parents will seek prayerfully to provide nourishing spiritual food for their children in the true Word of God, because they know this will help their children develop a strong faith and enable them to ward off deadly viruses with which Satan and the godless world would love to infect them.
The Christian training of children is an awesome responsibility. Who is equal to the task, one might ask? What comfort it is for parents to know that success in raising their children for the Lord does not depend on their own expertise but on the power of the Word they plant in their children's hearts. As they give themselves to this task they may rest assured: Jesus, the faithful Shepherd of His lambs, will bless our faithful efforts.
Dear Lord, give us eyes to see our children as precious gifts from Your hand. Teach us to love our children aright so that we labor diligently to train them up in Your ways, that they may glorify You in their lives here and live with You in heaven. Amen.
