I am very thankful to God whenever I notice the presence of children in our church. I see them on the Lord’s Day at our worship services; I also see them sitting on the front rows of chairs on Tuesday nights for our Bible Study cum Prayer Meeting. I always have a surge of joy in my heart when I see them. How pleasing is their singing of hymns! They are ever eager to sing their choices of songs with the congregation. Their close proximity to the pulpit gives me the pleasure of hearing their enthusiastic singing. I rejoice when they hurriedly come to join me to pray. I also thank the Lord that they listen to the preaching of the Word attentively. Whether it be on the Lord’s Day or other days, it is wonderful to see many parents making every effort to bring their children along to the Lord’s House!
Nonetheless, I am also concerned that some other children are afforded very few opportunities by their parents. Fathers and mothers must provide as many opportunities as possible for their children to be involved in the church activities. Do not let your undue concern for their secular education and other activities deprive these young souls of their great need of spiritual nurture.
Parents, have mercy on the souls of your children! They may be little ones, but they are precious souls. The care for their souls must far exceed the care for their bodies! Have compassion on their poor souls! They are drowning day by day into the “miry pit” of anxiety for worldly success. The world is always seeking to ensnare their souls. No Christian parent can afford not to be diligent in nurturing them with the most excellent Christian environment. Their participation in the church activities is far more important than their school or other extra-curricular activities. If you only care for their earthly success, you are being irresponsible of your God-given task to nurture their souls.
From my experience of bringing up three children with my beloved wife, and having given 20 over years of my efforts to the pastoral supervision of the children in our church, let me appeal to you sincerely and candidly that nothing is more helpful and profitable in the nurture of your children than providing them maximum (not minimum or occasional) opportunity to participate in soul-nurturing activities of the church. Whether worship services, prayer meetings, children’s programmes, evangelism sessions, camps or retreats, let us not second-guess their great profitability in the nurture and protection of their souls.
Regular participation in church events with children would mean concerted discipline and commitment on the parents’ part. Notwithstanding all the troubles of taking them to church activities, you would have done the most vital duty of guarding and guiding your children’s souls. Please do not fear weariness. The troubles that you bear to ensure the spiritual nurture and fortification of your children’s souls will not be in vain. With much prayer and thanksgiving, make every effort to bring your children to our church activities. Jesus admonishes us, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven“ (Matthew 19:14).
would also like to encourage all those who labour in the children’s ministry to remember that you are dealing with precious immortal souls. Children are priceless in the sight of our Saviour. Their salvation and sanctification are His concern, and therefore the concern of everyone who ministers to them on Christ’s behalf. Pray earnestly for their repentance, salvation, spiritual growth, fruitfulness, etc., for Jesus says, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15).
“But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:28)
Jesus spoke those words in response to a woman who loudly acclaimed the blessedness of Mary, His mother. Her words about Mary were, “Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked” (Luke 11:27). Jesus neither denies her words, nor reproves her for what she said. In fact, His words “yea, rather” infer that He agreed to the woman’s suggestion that Mary was blessed to bear and suckle such a child (cf. Luke 1:27–28, 42, 48), and also wanted to pronounce something more joyous than the honour and privilege of bearing and suckling the Holy Child. Jesus wanted them to possess the greatest, noblest and purest joy that transcends all other rejoicing of man.
Have you realised that there is no greater blessedness than hearing and obeying God’s Word? Jesus said, “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” True happiness belongs to those who hear and obey the Word of God. This is a greater blessedness than being physically related to Jesus. He wanted all to know that more than an earthly relationship with Him, they should seek a spiritual relationship that leads to ultimate joy.
True loving relationship with Christ is one’s faithful allegiance to His Word. On another occasion Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We must not only hear His words, but also obey them diligently. As James wrote in his epistle, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22, cf. James 1:25).
Where there is high regard for His Word, there His love, cheer and blessings will flourish. His promises of blessedness to those who hear and obey are repeated in the Scriptures. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 22:7 assures, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
Even if you give assent to His Word with your nods, it would be of no avail unless you hear, believe and put into practice. Blessedness belongs to those who hear and obey His Word. He who hears to believe, and believes to do His Word shall be blessed.