Tuesday, April 30, 2019

DIRECTION, DESIRE, AND DISCIPLINE: Children and Conversion



Read Mark 10:13-16.

Can children come to Christ?  I believe that they not only can, but they should. Spurgeon said, “I have sometimes met with a deeper spiritual experience in children of ten and twelve—than I have in certain people of fifty and sixty! ... Capacity for believing lies more in the child—than in the man. We grow less rather capable of faith—than more capable of faith. Each year brings the unregenerate farther away from God...” (https://gracegems.org/B/Spurgeon_children.htm).  Every parent and church leader should read what Spurgeon says there.

Children should be directed to Jesus.  In our text, we see “they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them.”  The stodgy old theologians (the disciples) thought it a waste of time, but Jesus “was greatly displeased,” at them and rebuked them.

In directing them to Jesus, we help grow a desire for Jesus. These children were not compelled by force but came freely, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them...” and thus we see in their tender hearts a passion that went beyond parental direction to the youth’s drawing to Christ.  We must show, as adults, the wondrous glory of Jesus—His supreme worth and beauty. Show Jesus as He is to them and they will likely seek Him eagerly!

Of course, they will need discipline in developing their faith. The connection between the world discipline and discipleship should be evident. We must all—irrespective of age—have a childlike faith in coming to Christ. You cannot be saved without such simple trust for Jesus said, “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”  That, however, is the starting point and not the ending point. Such genuine faith will become a growing faith.  We disciple them in the principles of “the kingdom of God.”

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