BEING
WITH THE HEAVENLY FATHER -
......DEVOTIONS
FOR LAMBS.
No.
19
From Wendy Howard [Editor of Despatch magazine],
Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia.
Access Online http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Main/index.htm
Getting
to know God together.
BEING
WITH THE HEAVENLY FATHER -
......DEVOTIONS
FOR LAMBS.
No.
19
From Wendy Howard [Editor of Despatch magazine],
Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia.
Access Online http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Main/index.htm
Getting
to know God together.
.
Some
people wonder if little kids can know Jesus.
Can
they really know Him as Saviour?
Do
you know that little kids can trust Jesus with the best faith of all?
How
do I know, the Bible tells me about it.
The
very first message the Christian Church ever had included children being
saved.
Peter
got up and spoke to the crowds, he was a man chosen by God, and he said:
"The promise is unto you, and to your children..." (Acts 2:39).Peter had been telling them about Jesus Christ Who had died for their sin.
But
I said, "the best faith of all" didn't I?
Where
does the Bible say that?
Well,
Jesus' followers, His disciples, tried to make parents stop bothering Jesus.
They
were bringing their little kids to Him.
This
happened when Jesus was teaching and healing the sick.
Jesus
was really cross about that! And He said to them,
"Let
those children come to Me.
Don't
stop them.
For
the kingdom of God belongs to people like them.
Very
important,
whoever
can't receive the kingdom of God like a little child
won't
enter it at all."
Jesus meant that grown ups must have faith as simple as a child's.
It
is easier for a kid to have faith in Jesus Christ than for anyone else.
Jesus
even told grown ups to copy the trust and faith of children.
He
said,
"Unless
you turn around and become like children,
you
won't enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever
humbles himself (stops being proud) as a child,
he
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew
18:3-4).
Samuel
was very young when he was called to serve the Lord God.
Samuel's
priest, an old man called Eli, was a godly person in many ways.
He
didn't think at first that it was possible for God to call Samuel.
Why,
because he thought he was a kid, too young for God to call for service.
The
Bible tells the story in 1 Samuel 3.
The
Lord called Samuel three times before he could believe it was true!
Then
God called again, and told Samuel very important things indeed!
God
told him about the ruin that would happen to Eli,
because
his sons did very wrong things.
Eli
wouldn't make his sons obey the Lord. He was a weak father.
Verses
3 and 4 say:
"Samuel
was laid down to sleep,
...the
Lord called Samuel: and he answered,
Here
am I."
The
Bible speaks to us today.
We
must listen to its words, for they are the very words of the Mighty God.
You
too can serve God by obeying Him, as His Word teaches.
Who
knows what future God has planned for you.
A
PRAYER: "Dear Heavenly Father. I am glad you
care about children so much. I am glad that you want me to know You as
my friend and Lord. Help me to obey Your Word."
"And
we know that all things work together for good
to
them that love God." (Rom 8:28).
EXTRAS FOR TEENS AND BETWEENS
Many
today follow visions and so-called "prophecies."
They
don't get their guidance from God's Word but prefer to listen to other
people,
who
say that God is speaking through them!
This
is a dangerous and ungodly thing to do.
We
have the Bible, in it God speaks to those who are open and trust the Lord.
The
Bible will fill you with spiritual food so that you can tell right from
wrong,
and
it will show the Lord's plan for your life.
Samuel's
mother, Hannah, prayed a wonderful prayer.
It
is recorded in 1 Samuel 2.
Read 1 Samuel chapter 3, and chapter 2 when there is time.
Click
here