From the Elder's Pen "Children - An Example" 09/22/02 Past/Future Articles

 Last Sunday as I observed the children gathering for bro. Colley’s “Little Kids” class, I could not help but observe the enthusiasm with which they assembled.  Some were even running to join the group.  I marveled at their earnest desire to be a part of the study.  Somewhere between this young age and adulthood we seem to lose some of this motivation.

 In John 1:36-42 Andrew became aware that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb of God.  One of the first things he did was to go to someone he loved, his brother, Simon Peter, and bring him to Christ.  How many have we told about the Saviour of the world this week?  This month? This year?  Our charge as a Christian, as God’s people, is to tell all those we have the opportunity about the Christ.  Our motivation is a study of God’s word.  How are we motivated?  By the television?  By the daily news?  By the people we converse with?  Do the cares of this world steal our time and opportunities to study and commune with God:  Are we too caught up in obtaining the material wealth of this life that will soon pass away?  Or are we hungering and thirsting after righteousness putting our heart and soul into the studying, teaching, and spreading of the gospel?  (Matt. 5:6)

 In John 9:4 we are told to work the works of Him that has sent us while it is yet day for night cometh when no man can work.  Let us become humble like a child and have love for those around us.  On the other end of the spectrum (Matt. 18:6) if we do not have this childlike spirit of love and forgiveness, it would have been better for us that a millstone be hanged about our neck and drown in the sea.  The wise man said, “Pride goeth before destruction.” (Prov. 16:18)  Without humility we become as tinkling brass and sounding symbols.  (I Cor. 13:1)  Again let us become as the child, enthusiastic, hearts filled with love, understanding, forgiveness, humble, for of such is the Kingdom of heaven.  (Matt. 18:2-5)