What the Bible says about Children!

Have you ever had a really tough problem? A problem that you could not solve on your own that you just needed some help with?

Many times when we are faced with a difficult problem, we turn to God's Word for answers. Whether it is a problem with our career, family, marriage, finances, relationships, etc...Whatever the problem, the Bible has an answer for us.

There is one challenge however. The Bible is huge! 66 Books, 1189 Chapters, 31,173 Verses and 773,692 words all contained in one leather bound volume. It can be a major challenge to wade through all those books, verses and chapters trying to find the answer to our problems. Sometimes it can feel like we are searching for a needle in a haystack trying to find a verse that applies to our situation. If we are not careful, we end up playing "Russian Roulette" with our Bible, flipping madly through it searching for something to sustain us.

So what's the solution? How do we find the answers to life's problems stay free from sin and avoid playing Bible Roulette?
Psalm 119:11 gives us the answer."I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." The best way for us to use God's word is to dwell on it, meditate on it and finally memorize it. This way, when a problem arises in our life and we need God's word, it is readily available to us. Rather than searching wildly for a needle in a haystack, we are then able to confidently recall what we have already learned about the Lord and his Word and ask God to quicken it to our thoughts. This causes us to recall his word before, during and after we have a problem. As Psalm 119:11 tells us, this keeps us from sin.

I was recently talking with a group of believers from my church who confessed that they had a tough time reading the Bible. I encouraged them to focus on one verse or passage that they could meditate on and eventually memorize throughout the day. It is much better for us to allow one verse to take deep root in our hearts, rather than reading five chapters out of obligation or duty. That is my challenge to you today. In your life and in the life of your family, focus on meditating and memorizing God's Word, letting it settle deep into the well of your heart, so that your well stays pure and you stay free from sin.

Blessings,
Pastor Andrew

"Daddy, I love Jesus"

My daughter shared this thought from her heart with me as we climbed out of the car tonight. This wasn't the first time she had told me she loved Jesus. Rachel, my 3 and a half year old daughter, like many other children has shown a remarkable sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. But tonight was different.

"I love Jesus too Rachel. I love him very much" I replied. "Do you know why we love Jesus?" I asked.

What she said next stunned me. I knew that she was learning about the Lord. I knew her time spent reading the Bible with me and her mother, her time spent with Miss Desiree and Miss Patti in her pre-school class at church was instilling a deep love for the Lord in her heart. But I never expected her to repsond with such wisdom, clarity and certainty at the tender age of three.

"We love Jesus because He loves us. Jesus has loved us for a long time," Rachel answered with a smile on her face. Tears welled up in my eyes hearing this simple confession from my own daughter.

Rachel didn't know the chapter and verse that she was quoting. She didn't know that she was quoting I John 4:19 "We love because He first loved us." She didn't realize the truth of Psalm 139:13 that she was unwittingly referring to. She did know however that Jesus loved her. That He loved her VERY much and that He had loved Rachel from time long ago before she was even born.

Matthew 21:16: I have been a Children's Pastor for 6 years. I have known this verse to be true. I have seen it to be so in my own life and in the lives of the hundreds of children I have ministered to. But nothing hammered it home like hearing my daughter offer her heartfelt appreciation for Jesus.

Dad, Mom, Childrens Ministers; your children have a deep capacity for understanding the things of the Lord. Even at the early age of three, they can understand some of the most fundamental truths of Scripture. God loves them. He has a plan and purpose for them. Don't short them the experience of learning the things of God, even if you think they couldn't possibly understand. Everyone, regardless of age, race, sex or station in life needs the love of our Savior. They need to know that Jesus loves them, that He died on the cross for their sins and that someday soon, those that love Him in return, will be with him in Heaven.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Pastor Andrew