“If only my master would see the prophet…He would cure him …” – 2 King 5:3 (NIV)
At my home church, March month is observed as “Family Month.”
The family unit, instituted by God, is our first mission field. Persons in our homes need to know Jesus Christ and to have a relationship with Him so that they may be saved. Therefore, the Word of God must be taught there first. Our children are not too small to know the Lord and have a relationship with Him. In 2 Kings 5:1-5, a child who was taught the ways of God at home was able to share the Good News of Jehovah Rapha, which allowed another family to experience God’s healing grace.
Jesus instructed His disciples to go and teach and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). As Jesus was speaking at a gathering (Matthew 21:16 – NIV), He was asked, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants You, Lord, have called forth Your praise’?” Jesus encourages children to serve God. God admonishes us to remember our Creator in the days of our youth.
Throughout the Bible, God called men from childhood to fulfil His purpose: Samuel, David, Daniel, and Timothy are a few. They did what God ordained them to do. In Samuel’s case, he dwelled in the temple of God and was mentored by Eli (1 Samuel 3:1-10). David encountered God as he tended his father’s sheep and, later on, was anointed to become a king (1 Samuel 16:13). Daniel was taken captive as a child, and spent his days in prayer (Daniel 1:17-20). He became a bold ambassador for God. Timothy was taught the right way of living by his grandmother and his mother (2 Timothy 1:5).
Parents and guardians, allow your children to be in God’s presence. A boy was found in Jesus’ presence and offered his small lunch to feed a few thousand (John 6:9). What a lesson learnt that day! No, they are not too small to share and experience God for themselves. Allow them to be exposed (Children’s Church, Sunday School, etc.) to the Word of God. Even Jesus, our Saviour, as a child, spent time in the temple listening, asking questions of the religious teachers, and sharing the Word of God (Luke 2:42-49).
Scripture tells us, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” (Psalm 8:2 – NIV). Allow the little children to come to Jesus.
Read: Ecclesiastes 12:1; Luke 18:16-17
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 38:13-22; Luke 8:1-18; Numbers 27:12-23; Numbers 28; Numbers 29:1-11
