Children, Children, Children

(Excerpts from the Children, Children, Children booklet. For a copy contact: Blessing of Faith Ministry, Inc. at bof1225@yahoo.com for more information.

What are God's Thoughts Regarding the Treatment and Guidance of Children?

In Mark chapter 10, we are given an illustration of how Jesus regards the guidance and treatment of children. Beginning with verse 13 we find individuals bringing young children to Jesus. When Jesus’ disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them. But Jesus, displeased with their actions, says, "suffer (allow) little children to come unto me and forbid them not." In other words, he was telling them, don’t restrict or withhold children from becoming involved and acquainted with me.
The attitude of the disciples matches the attitudes of many people of our society today. We have people who say: It is wrong to teach children about God. They say: Children should make up their own minds. Yet, those same people will take a newly planted young tree or plant and prop it up with stakes to ensure it grows straight and tall. They wouldn’t dare allow it to grow on its own.

How Important Is It to Be a Good Example? Are Children Watching?

Things To Think About

• Do we teach our children: Do not lie. But when Aunt Susie calls we tell our children, "tell her I'm not home."
• Do we teach our children: You can talk to Jesus about anything. But do our children ever see us pray?

Encouragement Corner

• Don't be afraid to start a project. Fear of imperfection is a hinderance to your creativity. There are many people whose first project does not look the same today as it did when they first created it. Think about the Model-T Ford. Does it look the same today as it did when first created? What about the Singer sewing machine? Does it look the same as when it was first created? No, of course not. So don't be afraid to step out and try. It may be crudely done, but a crude project is better than no project; for you can never improve upon a thing if you never do it.
• Just as it is not God's will that anyone perish; it is also not God's will that we be unsuccessful. The scripture that encourages us to believe in God's will that we prosper asks us: If a son should ask for bread from his father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask for a fish, will he give him a serpent? (Matthew 7:8-11) The response to those questions is no, not a loving father. Therefore we can be assured that God will supply us what we have need of in order to succeed, prosper, and accomplish our goals.